Whole-house approach to energy efficiency
If you wish to solve comfort problems or reduce your energy bills, Minnesota Energy Resources can help. An energy auditor will make an in-home visit and provide energy-efficiency suggestions to improve the comfort, durability, safety and affordability of your home. The energy auditor will:
- Analyze your home through a comprehensive "House as a System" energy-efficiency audit
- Answer your specific questions about energy use in your home
- Review your natural gas bill to understand how much energy your home uses
- Provide recommendations and cost saving analysis, prioritized to show you where you'll get the most savings for your investment
Request an audit online or by telephone at 800-376-0517.
Minnesota Energy Resources offers two levels of audits:
- Standard audit
The standard audit will:
- Analyze your energy use
- Give you information on energy-saving measures with potential costs and estimated savings
- Provide a blower door diagnostic test
- Perform a furnace efficiency and combustion safety test
- Provide a natural draft and worst-case depressurization test if the home has atmospherically-vented appliances
Minnesota Energy Resources will pick up most of the cost of the audit; however, a customer co-pay of $50 will be added to your natural gas bill. Low income customers may participate in this program at no cost.
- Performance audit
In addition to all of the services provided in the standard audit, the performance audit will also include:
- An infrared camera inspection to further pinpoint the location of heat loss and air leaks, and
- A report with infrared camera pictures will be emailed to you
Minnesota Energy Resources will pay for the majority of the cost of the performance audit. However, a co-pay of $125 will be added to your natural gas bill.
What specifically does each audit provide?
| Description |
Standard
$50 Co‑pay |
Performance
$125 Co‑pay |
| Discuss customer concerns and initial questions in an interview |
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| Review annual gas usage regarding heating, domestic hot water (DHW) and other uses of natural gas in your home |
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| Measure DHW temperature and adjust as necessary |
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| Check furnace filter and provide a reminder card with your filter size on it |
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| Assess heating system, water heater, and other gas appliance replacement and clean-n-tune options and needs |
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| Inspect the thermal envelope of your home, diagnose and provide recommendations for improvements to attics, sidewalls, windows/doors, etc. |
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| Deliver a written report including all appropriate documentation |
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| Provide fact sheets, rebate applications, financing options, 800#s and websites, tax credit information, etc. |
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| Perform a blower door diagnostics test to identify air leaks |
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| Perform a combustion safety (carbon monoxide) and furnace efficiency test |
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| Perform a natural draft and worst case depressurization test (measure how furnace operation is affected by exhaust fans, clothes dryer, etc.) in homes with atmospherically vented appliances |
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| Perform an infrared scan to identify areas of heat loss through walls and attics. This test is weather dependent and is only available in the winter months. |
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| Provide an infrared diagnostic report with pictures and recommendations emailed to you |
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Which audit is best for you?
For some homes, our Standard Audit is sufficient. For others, there can be significant benefit in having a Performance Audit completed. If you have already had a Standard Audit and are still having energy efficiency or comfort issues in your home, a Performance Audit could be what you need. Or, if you notice two or more of the following in or around your home, our Performance Audit may be for you.
- Ice dams on the roof
- Moisture or frost in the attic
- Mold or moisture spots on interior walls
- Condensation on your windows
- Stains around ceiling exhaust fan(s)
- Cold spots in areas of the house
- Inadequate or older insulation
