Homeowner Frequently Asked Questions
Homes that perform with ENERGY STAR® can save their owners money, improve comfort, and contribute to better family health and safety — all while providing durability and maximum energy efficiency to the home. Below you’ll find Frequently Asked Questions from homeowners about the BGE Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program.
1. What is Home Performance with ENERGY STAR?
2. What is a Home Performance Energy Audit?
3. Why should I consider upgrading my home’s energy efficiency over other types of home improvements?
4. How do I know whether I can participate?
5. How do I find a participating contractor?
6. What is the best way to select a contractor?
7. Should I accompany the contractor during the Home Performance Energy Audit?
8. What if the contractor visits my home, but I decide not to move forward with any improvements?
9. How long will it take for the improvements to be made to my home?
10. What does it cost to participate?
11. Why are health and safety testing important when conducting home energy improvements?
12. What are some cost-effective improvements that a contractor can make to a home?
13. What’s the difference between the Quick Home Energy Check-up and the Home Performance Energy Audit?
1. What is Home Performance with ENERGY STAR?
Created by the federal government, the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program uses a whole-house approach to make a home more energy-efficient, thus lowering its energy consumption. Each participating contractor has staff certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI). Only contractors with BPI-certified staff can participate in the Program. These specially trained professionals use advanced diagnostic equipment to test the home and identify optimal energy efficiency improvements.
2. What is a Home Performance Energy Audit?
The Home Performance Energy Audit is the first step toward improving your home’s energy efficiency and reducing energy bills. During this comprehensive energy audit, the BPI-certified contractor tests and evaluates the home using advanced diagnostic equipment and building science principles to determine which areas would benefit from energy efficiency and health and safety-related improvements. Features to be tested include but are not limited to heating and cooling equipment, insulation levels, air infiltration, appliances, and lighting. Included in the $100* audit fee, the contractor will install a number of energy saving features, such as compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, water heater tank wrap, and low-flow showerheads. If the home is more than 3,000 square feet or has more than one combustion appliance zone, additional fees may apply at the discretion of the contractor you select.
Specifically, the contractor tests for air-leakage using a blower door and infrared scan, conducts a series of combustion-related tests, and looks for opportunities to improve the home’s insulation, heating and cooling system, windows, appliances, and lighting. The contractor will then explain to you what improvements can be made, and what they will cost.
3. Why should I consider upgrading my home’s energy efficiency over other types of home improvements?
Energy efficiency upgrades will improve the comfort of your home while making sure the occupants are living in a safe environment — thereby protecting your most important investment, your home, and its treasured occupants, your family. As a result of the improvements, you will reduce your energy usage every month.
4. How do I know whether I can participate?
Only BGE electric or gas distribution customers are eligible to participate. (You can however use any gas and/or electric supplier.)
5. How do I find a participating contractor?
To evaluate your home and recommend energy efficiency improvements, there is a network of independent certified contractors who have been specially trained to use the most advanced, state-of-the-art equipment and their knowledge of building science. Contact one of them to get started
6. What’s the best way to select a contractor?
Contractors participating in this program have earned certification through the Building Performance Institute (BPI), a national resource for building science technology that sets standards for assessing and improving home energy efficiency. A BPI-certified contractor is trained and skilled in building science technology. To qualify to participate in BGE’s program, contractors must also have agreed to BGE’s program participation rules. Find a contractor.
7. Should I accompany the contractor during the Home Performance Energy Audit?
The Program strongly encourages you to accompany your contractor during the Home Performance Energy Audit and to ask questions. Your participation will help you when discussing the audit findings, your contractor’s recommendations and how you can reduce energy use.
8. What if the contractor visits my home but I choose not to move forward with any improvements?
Once your energy audit is complete and you receive the contractor’s recommendations, it is your decision whether to move forward with the improvements and sign a contract. Your only responsibility then is to pay the $100* audit fee to your contractor. (Note that if your home is more than 3,000 square feet or has more than one combustion appliance zone, additional fees may apply at the discretion of the contractor you selected.) But remember, the recommended improvements can improve the energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and comfort of your home, while reducing your energy usage. Therefore, you and your family can greatly benefit from moving forward with the recommended improvements as soon as possible following your Home Performance Energy Audit.
9. How long will it take for the improvements to be made to my home?
The improvements and the time to complete them will vary by participant. To complete the contracted improvements to your home, your contractor may have to visit your home on multiple days. At a minimum, BGE strongly recommends that you meet with the contractor at the beginning of each day before work begins, and at the end of the day to review progress and to help you better understand the impact the work will have on your home. Be aware that the normal routine of your household may be disrupted while the contractor performs the improvements.
10. What does it cost to participate?
Your participating contractor will charge a $100* fee for the Home Performance Energy Audit. Additional fees may apply if your home is larger than 3,000 square feet, has more than one combustion system (excluding the oven) or is subject to specialty services from the contractor. You also will pay for the improvements you agree to as part of a contract. Those costs depend on your home (including size, age, etc.), the recommended improvements, and those you choose to install. Homeowners can receive cash incentives to help offset some of the costs of improvements.
11. Why are health and safety testing important when conducting home energy improvements?
BPI-certified contractors perform critical combustion safety-related tests before and after performing energy improvements to the home. Inspecting and testing combustion appliances — such as heating equipment, ovens, and water heaters for proper performance and carbon monoxide emissions — helps ensure safe, efficient operation and prevent dangerous combustion gases from being introduced into the home. Such tests are critical when tightening up the home to make it more energy-efficient and comfortable.
12. What are some cost-effective improvements that a contractor can make to my home?
Depending on the home, improvements may include sealing gaps, cracks, and other leaks that let outside air into a home; adding insulation; and sealing, insulating, or replacing air ducts that run through attics or crawlspaces. Improvements may also include repairing or replacing old or poorly functioning heating and cooling systems and appliances. Installing ENERGY STAR® qualified lighting is another commonly performed, cost-effective improvement.
13. What’s the difference between the Quick Home Energy Check-up and the Home Performance Energy Audit?
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