Green Remodel Forum

I'm thinking of hiring a guy to check my house. My house doesn't seem to get warmed up easily. Anyone knows the cost?

It depends on the size of your house. It's from $250 all the way to $1000. The average is about $500 - $600. Some home performance contractors charge you low fees in hope of you hiring them to do the energy retrofit. Some newly certified BPI (Building Performance Institute) contractors may do it for free in hope of drum start their energy retrofitting business.

Checking a house for $500-600 sounds high to me. What do they really do? How long does it take them to do the work?

Great sharing...
Thanks for sharing this...

The home performance contractors test homes with the equipment such as: Blower Door, Duct Blaster, Infrared Camera, Combustion Analyzer, Flow Hood, etc. to locate air leakage around the house. This can take 2-3 hours with 2 persons. They then return with a detailed report and recommendation on what to repair to make your home more comfortable without any more drafty rooms. The repair may be simple or extensive, but you can do it in stages.

When will the Energy Upgrade CA rebate expire?

Energy Upgrade CA may expire at the end of this year. However, I think it's going to extend for another 2 years. I'll post it here when the decision is finalized.

Energy Upgrade CA have licensed building contractors with specific qualifications are eligible to participate in Energy Upgrade California. Interested contractors must attend an Energy Upgrade California orientation workshop through CCSE.
They conducted workshop outlines to the contractors on the program resources available to contractors, the requirements for participation and the process of submitting projects for SDG&E and other eligible incentives and rebates.

The attendees have to go through the program and pass the written and field tests before they get their certificates as "home performance contractors". They often times are certified by BPI (Building Performance Institute).

When it comes to energy, your house is a system—insulation, air ducts, windows, furnace and air-conditioning—that works together. An energy upgrade makes sure that each piece functions well so your whole house is more efficient.
An energy upgrade can help you…
* Save energy and lower your bills
* Make your home more comfortable in all seasons
* Improve the air quality inside your home
* Conserve resources and reduce greenhouse gases