 The home energy audit is the most important and first step toward making your home and business more energy efficient. The energy audit should be performed by a licensed Florida energy Rater. Per Florida statute, only persons certified and tested by the Florida Department of community affairs and having national accreditation from the Home Energy Rating System HERS can perform energy ratings in Florida.
A Florida home energy rating is comprised of a whole house analysis that requires the rater to collect information about the homes physical makeup and energy consuming components. After measuring and collecting information about the age, orientation, physical characteristics, windows and doors, lighting, and other important interior and exterior components the data is entered into a proprietary software called Energy Gauge. The software compares the target home or commercial building to other baseline structures and using local utility costs determines the annual costs to operate the building. The software allows individual component changes to determine what energy and efficiency upgrades would be cost-effective In reducing energy consumption and thus operational cost of the building.
 Additionally,
Florida home energy raters perform a blower door test to determine the whole house air leakage and duct blower tests to determine to what extent the ductwork leaks. The final report along with the raters recommendations for cost effective improvements are provided to the owner. This information is invaluable in determining what repairs should be engaged to make the building more energy-efficient, healthier and more cost-efficient to operate.
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Henry G Moseley, President