Residential Services

• Home Performance Testing
• Written Report of Test Results
• Post-Testing Services Provided
• 1-Stop Convenience
• Testimonials
• Contact Us

Home Performance Testing

We offer a comprehensive home energy inspection to homeowners interested in lowering their utility costs and creating a more energy efficient and comfortable home. Following the Home Performance Testing, AES will provide you with a written report of the test results, and include information on estimated energy savings, costs, payback periods, and our recommendations of action. We are committed to providing you with the right services that will yield the highest economic return for you!

			There are several locations in homes that are susceptible to heat loss, cold air loss, and air leaks. Click on the diagram to the left to view these common areas, and the direction of heat flow. During the Home Performance Test, our expert technicians can pinpoint these problematic areas, and determine the best and most affordable ways to solve the issues. Fixing these problematic areas will lower your energy usage and utility payments, and increase comfort levels in your home.

Home Performance Testing is recommended for homeowners looking to:

• SAVE MONEY by lowering utility bills!
• Reduce energy usage
• Solve indoor moisture and indoor air quality problems
• Solve ice damming/attic condensation problems

			This picture shows a large, rectangular patch of melted snow on the roof. This is a direct result of heat loss from the house into the attic, and is caused by a lack of insulation between the attic and the top floor ceiling. The constant melting and refreezing of the snow will lead to ice damming problems.

• Increase comfort levels in their home
• Begin remodeling projects using "green" and energy efficient practices
• Reduce overall environmental and carbon footprint

Home Performance Testing includes:

• Blower Door Test: measure air infiltration (air leakage) rates, and pinpoint locations of air leaks
• Infrared Camera Inspection: locate areas of heat loss and air infiltration through walls, doors, windows, and into the attic

	Digital photo of the upper corner of a room with a slanted ceiling. Common construction practice, especially in older homes.		Infrared digital picture showing heat loss through the walls caused by lack of insulation.  Darker shade shows heat escaping through walls.		Infrared digital picture of the same walls after work is completed. Lighter shade shows much less heat loss.

• Safety Testing: measure carbon monoxide and back draft levels
• Pressure Diagnostic testing: determines thermal boundary of home
• Moisture Assessment: measure relative humidity, check attic for signs of condensation, mold/mildew inspection, pinpoint sources and causes of moisture
• Ventilation System Assessment: inspect and measure ventilation systems

			This picture shows an improperly installed bathroom exhaust vent. In this case, the moisture is being exhausted into the attic rather than out of the house, causing deterioration of the wood and mold/mildew problems.

• Inspection of Major Attic By-Passes: locate areas open to heat loss and air leaks into the attic and out of the house

			This picture shows a non-insulated cavity in the attic that is open to the inside of the house. These spaces are a major source of heat loss (air loss in summer months), which leads to wasted heating and cooling costs. Our energy efficiency technicians will locate, insulate, and air-tight seal these cavities.

Written Report of Test Results

After we have completed the comprehensive Home Performance Testing, we will provide you with a detailed written report of the following information:

• Locations of air leaks, non-insulated or poorly insulated areas, and other heat loss/air infiltration areas.
• Estimated energy savings, costs, and simple payback periods
• Immediate Action Recommendations
• Low to Zero Cost Opportunities
• Larger Cost and Large Scale Projects: We can provide assistance in determining multiple phases and future projects according to your budget and plan

View a sample Home Performance Report

Post-Testing Services Provided

• Sealing of air leaks and other air infiltration and heat loss areas

	Insulated and foam-sealed attic bypass		Foam-sealed plumbing pipe

• Insulation Project Management: We can help you determine the smartest and most cost effective way to insulate the areas of your house that are lacking insulation

	Blown-in cellulose insulation from interior		Blown-in cellulose insulation from exterior

• Green Remodeling Consulting: We will oversee and manage large scale transformation projects to turn your house into an energy efficient and green system

1-Stop Convenience

After we have completed the Home Performance Testing, our expert technicians can perform many of the improvements, changes, and projects you choose to carry out. We can also help you find other high quality and credible professionals to complete specific tasks in large scale remodeling projects.

We will “hold your hand” and oversee the entire process to ensure you receive the highest quality and most affordable services, without consuming your time or creating a hassle.

Testimonials

Barbara, Minneapolis homeowner

  “We were really pleased with the service. Every penny spent was well worth it!”
     - Barbara

Barbara received a home performance test from our energy efficiency experts in December of 2001. AES pinpointed specific areas and cavities that lacked insulation, allowing heat to flow directly into attic spaces and out of the house.

  “Affordable Energy Solutions did a very nice job of taking care of every aspect of the project. Everything was clearly presented and explained to us, so there was no confusion and no hassle.”
     - Barbara

Our specialists worked with Barbara to create a plan that would produce an economic payback. AES then insulated and sealed the specific areas and cavities, and performed other services. After our specialists completed the project, Barbara immediately saw a 30% decrease in heating costs!

Project Cost: $1,981 Saved (12 months): $395 Payback Time: 5 Years

Chris, Minneapolis homeowner

  “The information acquired from [AES] was very helpful and gave me the confidence that the work I had done was thorough and complete.”
     - Chris

Chris purchased his current home in the summer of 2007. During the winter months, he was paying around $15 per day in natural gas just to heat the house! These extremely high heating costs were the result of non-insulated walls, floors, and ceilings. Chris hired an insulation contractor to insulate the entire house, then had a Home Performance Test done by AES. Our energy efficiency experts were able to pinpoint specific areas with the infrared camera where the insulation company had missed spots.

  “[AES’s] information helped the contractor to dramatically improve the insulation project. It was great to have someone advocate on my behalf. [AES] responded very quickly, was very flexible, and was able to meet my schedule.”
     - Chris

AES contacted the insulation company and showed them our infrared camera test results. They came right back and fixed the problematic areas, and insulated every cavity they had previously missed. AES worked directly with the insulation company, so that Chris did not have to serve as an intermediary between the two companies. After the insulation company completed the job, AES returned to test the house for a second time, confirming with Chris that the job was complete. Chris has already noticed warmer walls and a more comfortable living space.

Johannah, Minneapolis homeowner

  “The entire experience was great. I knew the project was in excellent hands.”
     - Johannah

Affordable Energy Solutions performed an energy audit on Johannah’s house in September 2008. Following the audit, AES worked directly with a top-quality and highly-credible insulation contractor to insulate the entire house. AES also recommended a remodeling contractor who worked on the second floor. The carpentry work on the knee walls resulted in a more useful living space, additional storage space, and an increased value of the home. After the insulation work was completed, AES used a thermal imaging infrared camera to ensure every area of the house was sufficiently insulated.

  “AES worked with both the remodeling contractor and the insulation contractor to ensure the project was done right from start to finish.”
     - Johannah

The house had no insulation at all, which meant that it was extremely cold in the winter and very hot in the summer. Very high heating use in the winter was matched by around-the-clock use of the air conditioner in the summer. Even with the air conditioners, the second level of the house was unlivable in the summer. Indeed, the upstairs level could reach temperatures in excess of 100 degrees!

  “Bruce was very approachable, and he explained everything very clearly.”
     - Johannah

Contact Us

AES serves homeowners, building owners, and landlords in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.

Please click here to receive information about our services and cost estimates.

You may also call us at 612-724-8977 or email us at info@affordableenergysolutions.com.