When modeling improvements, we put the turn key price to do the improvements in REM/Rate. The software gives us numbers that we utilize to determine simple payback, return on investment, present value and net savings. We are the only company that I know of that does this for their customers. Simple payback is what most people look at. I am very conservative when I do one of these because I do not want to over-promise.
When labor and indirect costs are entered, it gives paybacks, that to some may appear long. It is my belief that the entire cost of the improvement be entered, even if this lengthens payback. When a home has gone for a long period of time without improvements to the energy systems and there are multiple things to be addressed, the costs increase the simple payback. I want the homeowner to know everything going into a retrofit.
Now, what is really important to understand is that comfort and happiness is something that is not measured in a comprehensive home energy audit. If you want to be happy and comfortable in your home while cutting your CO2 emissions, then the economic portions of the report do not carry as much weight. Every home and homeowner is unique. A homeowner with low bills/consumption compared to someone else with a different lifestyle but a similar size/age home has an effect on numbers as well.
Please keep in mind that this report is intended to be a living, breathing book. I want to be your energy and comfort consultant for life. At any time, I will produce the additional reports needed if the scope of the job changes or if you want to see different scenarios. I will also produce test out pages for you to add if you proceed with a retrofit.
In closing, if we do a retrofit at your home, we will test out at the end of the project and during the project if needed. We report our findings to you and our Quality Assurance is performed by a third party. Our goal is 100% satisfaction. You can rest assured that we will perform to the highest level of integrity and you will be amazed. Thank you very much!
Hi Kerry! Merry Christmas and Happy New year to you and yours as well!
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog! it is well written and informative as usual. The information you are providing is very good, easy to read and understand which is so important to homeowners. They are innundated with so much technical information about energy efficiency today, and it just confuses most people. There are lots of promises made by vendors that are over the moon! I like your information and it is right on!