Energy Assessment vs. Energy Audit
Why pay for an assessment when you can get a free audit?
In the Atlanta area, and probably throughout the rest of the county there are many people giving free audits. Free had a cost that could be more expensive the paying a consultant. Please read on.
When I was 8 years old I remember and event at a bank where they had “free” pizza and other promotions there. I also got a “free” bond f or stating a checking account there. I remember talking about the free pizza and this older gentleman next to me told me that nothing in life is free. Unfortunately, every time I get something for “free,” his saying pops back into my head and as a business owner I start to calculate how much free might cost me.
This is still true today. Free- is a loss leader in hopes of getting your business. You will pay for free once you do business with them. In the energy world, there are lots of “free audits.” I think that giving a free energy audit is brilliant marketing. You have just disguised a sales call, by using a more comforting phrase such as “free energy audit.” How kind of your to give away something for free. Nothing wrong with that, except you are getting sold on a particular product verse a holistic solution without 3rd party verification. I am seeing many window and insulation salespeople offer this free audit which is good for getting people’s attention, however the best solution may not be just windows, insulation or HVAC. They are not going to offer the true best ROI, because they are going to loose money. So your free audit, I mean sales call, could actually cost you more money because it is free. The sales call will sell you the product with the highest profit margin, versus the solution with the the best return on investment.
When you pay for an energy assessment, it is more than a visual checklist that takes 20 minutes (like the free energy). It is a compressive approach that was created by a 3rd party- the EPA. I would trust suggestions from an unbiased 3rd party before I trust manufacturer’s claims. With a Home Performance with Energy Star Assessment, you get a prioritized checklist and full report of how your house can be made better for your energy efficiency, comfort and safety. An assessor homes out to you house and spends hours not minutes methodically testing your home to see where improvements can be made.
Also, with the assessment you are eligible for more rebates and have quantifiable numbers to work with when you go to sell you home.
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