To reduce utility bills, the first step is to find out where you are wasting energy.

To do this, you need a residential energy inspection—which should be done by a certified energy inspector who has no financial interest in the improvements recommended.

The energy inspector will examine, measure, and evaluate the factors that affect energy use in your home, e.g., size of the home, efficiency of appliances, insulation, draftiness of rooms, and efficiency of heating and cooling systems (HVAC). This includes an ITI Energy Survey using state of the art Infrared Thermal Imaging Technology and equipment.

The information gathered during the energy audit is analyzed using specialized software to produce a comprehensive Home Energy Tune- uP® Report. The Report shows which energy-efficiency improvements would reduce energy costs and make the home more comfortable. The analysis takes into account regional variables such as local weather, implementation costs, and fuel prices.

The Report contains estimates of the savings, costs and payback for each energy-efficiency recommendation. It identifies the group of improvements that, if financed, will save more on energy bills than it costs. These are the improvements that everyone can make since they require no out-of-pocket cost when financed.

The detailed Recommendations section enables contractors to provide preliminary cost estimates without a visit to your home. It also explains how to get the best energy savings from these improvements by listing related no-cost low-cost measures that you can take.