ENERGY STAR®
with COMFORT CONTROLCLICK here for A SAMPLE REPORT

 

What is the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program?

WATCH A VIDEO on ENERGY STAR® with COMFORT CONTROL

Test Incentives, Tax Credits and Rebates

This service is a complete investigation (over 3 hours) focusing on the air delivery system within your home and measuring your room-by-room comfort levels.  This test includes a diagnostic analysis of your duct system to determine that each room is receiving the correct amount and right temperature of air for your comfort.  Abacus Energy Solutions will find the cause of drafts, cold spots and stuffiness within your home.  The Energy Star with Comfort Control report will detail where there are potential comfort issues and how to resolve them cost effectively.  The report will also identify investment payback calculations on home improvement opportunities that will save you energy and money. 

Abacus Energy Solutions will provide you with a report detailing your current energy usage, the total size of your home’s air leaks, any issues with your combustion appliances and possible moisture concerns.  Abacus Energy Solutions will also provide you with additional testing options to pinpoint other opportunities for energy savings that include duct system testing, identify air leakage locations and make valuable home improvement recommendations that include detailed payback analysis.

All Abacus Energy Solutions auditors have extensive training in building science and combustion appliance safety inspection from the Building Performance Institute (BPI).  In addition to BPI certification Abacus Energy Solutions, LLC is an approved trade ally of the Energy Trust of Oregon.  The Energy Trust of Oregon independently monitors and reviews the quality of work provided by Abacus Energy Solutions so you, the homeowner is guaranteed the work will be done right.  

The Inspection Process

An Abacus Energy Solutions audit begins with an interview usually over the phone, web or via email to review any air quality concerns, drafts or cold areas in the home and to collect 12 months of utility bills for analysis.

Abacus Energy Solutions will perform a full exterior and interior energy audit of your home.  All your combustion appliances, flue pipes and chimneys will be professionally evaluated for proper operation and safety under natural conditions and under a worst-case scenario. Flue gases will be analyzed. The data acquired from these tests will reveal any inefficiency in burning and potential for carbon monoxide or other exhaust gases to accumulate in the home. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odor-less, colorless byproduct of inefficient burning in heating appliances and can only be detected with a CO meter.  If carbon monoxide is not vented properly there is a potential for CO-poisoning.  Even at a low level, CO-poisoning can cause several chronic health conditions, even death.

Your health and safety is a top priority of Abacus Energy Solutions.  During the visit, your auditor will make sure your home is equipped with properly installed and working smoke and CO-detectors.   The auditor will identify any potential fire hazards and recommend the proper storage of volatile or combustible compounds within your home.   All Abacus Energy Solutions auditors have smoke, fire and carbon monoxide monitors available for sale as well as batteries and fire extinguishers.  In many cases carbon monoxide monitors are a requirement if you would like to receive incentives from the Energy Trust of Oregon.

Moisture issues are another concern for many homeowners.  All Abacus Energy Solutions auditors specialize in indentifying the sources of your moisture problems.  Your Home Check with Energy Star report will provide you with the options to correct any moisture problems. 

Air Leakage Analysis

Your Abacus Energy Solutions auditor will set up a blower door at your home’s main entry to slightly depressurize your house to measure air infiltration.  The blower door will calculated the total air leaks in your home.  Your Abacus Energy Solutions auditor will then analyze the results and compare them with the industry Building Airflow Standard (BAS) for your home.  Included in this test is a room-by-room inspection of all window sills, doors, walls and outlets for potential air and moisture leaks.  Using an infrared camera the Abacus Energy Solutions auditor can identify potential moisture issues hidden behind your walls.

Duct System Analysis

You duct system delivers air to all rooms within your home.  If your duct system is leaky it is difficult to identify where the air is coming from or if too little air is supplying a room.  Your Energy Star with Comfort Control audit includes a full diagnostic analysis of your duct delivery system.  Your Abacus Energy Solutions auditor will setup a duct blaster to measure the amount of air leaking from your ducts and identify room-by-room where there are potential air delivery issues.
In addition the Energy Star with Comfort Control includes a full furnace and duct efficiency inspection.  This inspection may address issues such as “cold delivery”.  Cold delivery is when the furnace turns off cooler air may blow out of the duct system.  If you are experiencing this issue your Abacus Energy Solutions auditor may measure the air temperature delivered to your duct system.

Additional Testing Options

Your Abacus Energy Solutions auditor carries additional testing equipment to collect laboratory test samples for mold, radon-gas, lead paint and drinking water.  There will be a small fee charged for these optional services.

In Summary

The Energy Star with Comfort Control audit indentifies solutions for your comfort concerns.  With this you will receive a detailed report on how to resolve your comfort issues cost effectively using energy efficient solutions and special incentives from the Energy Trust of Oregon.  Abacus Energy Solutions along with the Portland Energy Saver’s provider network is your “one-stop-shop” general contractor.  Abacus Energy Solutions can perform all your energy saving home improvements no matter the scope.   
In addition you will receive all the combustion appliance safety and air leakage analysis included in the Home Check with Energy Star and the Home Performance with Energy Star audits.

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Home Performance with Energy Star® program

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, a national program from the U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE, offers a comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort at home, while helping to protect the environment. Abacus Energy Solutions takes this holistic approach to energy auditing and combines it with their "white glove" service and other features such as ENERGY STAR with COMFORT CONTROL.

All Abacus Energy Solutions auditors have extensive training in building science and combustion appliance safety inspection from the Building Performance Institute (BPI).  BPI is the federally approved training program for Home Performance with ENERGY STAR.

In addition to BPI certification, Abacus Energy Solutions, LLC is an approved trade ally of the Energy Trust of Oregon.  The Energy Trust of Oregon independently monitors and reviews the quality of work provided by Abacus Energy Solutions so you, the homeowner is guaranteed the work will be done right.

Watch a video about what to expect with your ENERGY STAR with COMFORT CONTROL audit.

Energy Trust Testing IncentivesIncentives are only available for work performed by a licensed contractor such as one of those listed on this site.

Air leakage test: $35 per residence tested
Blower Door test required (measures the air leakage of your home before and after air sealing is performed).

Save even more in your electric- or gas-heated home with the deluxe Home Comfort Package.

Duct testing: $35 per duct system tested
A specially trained contractor conducts a duct leakage test in your home to determine the amount of air leaking from your ducts (measured in cubic feet of air leakage per minute or CFM50).

Save even more in your electric- or gas-heated home with the deluxe Home Comfort Package.