Comfort Line - Home Performance With Energy Star

What is Home Performance with Energy Star?

The New Jersey Home Performance with Energy Star Program uses a whole house approach to make homes more energy efficient, lowering energy costs by up to 30%. Participating contractors are accredited through the Building Performance Institute (BPI), a national organization that sets standards for assessing and improving the energy performance of homes. Accredited contractors use advanced diagnostic equipment to test homes and identify available energy efficiency improvements.

What is a Home Performance with Energy Star Assessment?

An assessment is the first step towards improving the home’s efficiency and reducing energy consumption. During the assessment, the BPI-Accredited Contractor uses diagnostic equipment to evaluate the heating and cooling equipment, insulation levels and air sealing opportunities within the home. The contractor communicates to the homeowner what improvements can be made and the cost of making those improvements.

Why is air sealing important?

Insulation alone is not always enough to make your home energy efficient. Using special equipment, BPI-Accredited Contractors can locate and measure air leakage. Stopping air leaks, combined with proper insulation and ventilation, are the three major components required to ensure a home is tight while also providing a sufficient supply of fresh air.

What is the cost of a home energy audit?

A complete home energy audit takes approximately six hours and costs $300.

What’s next after the completion of the audit?

The contractor prepares a report that details the available energy savings. These savings will be produced by a combination of air sealing, insulation and upgrades to the heating, air conditioning and domestic hot water systems.

Are there any incentives available?

Yes, the Home Performance with Energy Star Program includes a number of incentives that are provided through government funding and funds raised through the Societal Benefit Charge collected by utilities. In order to obtain the incentives, the homeowner must enter into a contract with the Home Performance with Energy Star Contractor to actually perform the energy-saving upgrades. These incentives change over time. The currently available incentives are:

• Attainment of greater than 5% and less than 25% total energy savings
  • A 10% cash rebate up to $1,300 or financing at 5.99% up to $20,000
• Attainment of 25% or greater total energy savings
  • A 50% cash rebate up to $3,000 and 0% interest loan (minimum $2,500, maximum $10,000)

Depending upon the nature of the energy-saving improvements, a federal tax credit may also be available to help cover the cost.