Sound Home Plan
In 2019, home renovations resulting from the Sound Home Plan brought about energy reductions of over 660 million BTUs.
Included in RTP's Sound Home Plan for $399*
Your Plan starts with an in-depth energy audit. From there, RTP creates a comprehensive diagnostic report about your home’s performance. We advise you on the most cost effective ways to upgrade your home and refer you to trusted local contractors. If you choose to follow through with suggested home upgrades, we also perform follow-up inspections after the work is complete to guarantee work quality.
- Whole house performance evaluation
- Blower door testing
- Infrared thermal imaging
- Health & safety testing
- Moisture & mold inspection
- Prioritized recommendations
- Estimated cost of work
- Predicted energy savings
- Carbon footprint evaluation
- Home Energy Score
- Radon monitor
- Certificate of Improvement on work completion
*Energy audits for larger homes or homes with more than one heating system may cost slightly more.
What is a Home Energy Audit?
RTP's energy professionals follow a science-based approach when visiting your home. Our Building Performance Institute (BPI)-certified auditors use specialized training and advanced diagnostic equipment to test for air flow, air leaks, potential gas and carbon monoxide leaks, moisture, humidity and temperature issues, and insulation and efficiency problems. Unlike the narrow, single-point perspective of typical insulation and HVAC contractors, our energy auditors understand your home as an interconnected system that needs to be diagnosed and assessed as a whole. This addresses the health of your home at the same time when we uncover energy saving possibilities.
RTP's energy professionals follow a science-based approach when visiting your home. Our Building Performance Institute (BPI)-certified auditors use specialized training and advanced diagnostic equipment to test for air flow, air leaks, potential gas and carbon monoxide leaks, moisture, humidity and temperature issues, and insulation and efficiency problems. Unlike the narrow, single-point perspective of typical insulation and HVAC contractors, our energy auditors understand your home as an interconnected system that needs to be diagnosed and assessed as a whole. This addresses the health of your home at the same time when we uncover energy saving possibilities.
During the on-site inspection, we examine your home both inside and out for visible issues such as mold and moisture and low insulation levels. We use our extensive expertise to assess mechanical appliances such as heating and cooling systems to ensure that they are properly running.
“Air sealing” is like the windbreaker that pairs up with the wool sweater of insulation in your home’s protective layers. Without both, you’ll be far less comfortable, and that’s why it is important to address both. To get air sealing right, we conduct a “blower door test” to pinpoint the cracks, voids, and gaps where air leaks into (and out of) your house. It is most important to locate and seal the gaps found at the top and bottom of the home, due to a phenomenon known as “stack effect” (see more here). Our blower door test is a key component in identifying these unwanted sources of air infiltration and exfiltration, which can account for up to one third of the total conditioned air lost from your home.
Thermal imaging, also known as an infra-red camera scan, is similar to taking an X-ray of the wall, in the sense that it lets us see things inside of a building structure that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. It can uncover deficiencies in your home such as air leaks and missing insulation. Using thermal imaging, we find issues that are often completely unknown to the homeowner, and are often located in unexpected areas - like around light fixtures in the ceiling.
Combustion safety testing performed during the audit ensures all combustion appliances are running safely and are not back-drafting. While our auditors are experts when it comes to the visual assessment of your home's mechanical systems, there is also a need for the use of high-tech diagnostic equipment. All appliances and hot water and HVAC equipment are closely evaluated for their fuel economy and energy efficiency. These tests and measurements assist us in determining your whole house performance and the most cost effective ways to improve your comfort and health and reduce your energy waste.
Why Work With Us?
- We are a nonprofit advisor and provide an unbiased assessment of your home, as a third party.
- We are an established partner and a program sponsor of Home Performance with Energy Star program from Department of Energy (DOE). As such, both the RTP team and participating contractors are dedicated to providing the trust and quality that are associated with the ENERGY STAR brand.
- Contractors who participate in Sound Home Plan (SHP) are vetted and need to adhere to quality control rules from DOE.
- SHP contractors use an insulating method known as “dense-packed cellulose” to insulate cathedral ceilings, walls, cantilevers, ceilings of a garage, and other common problem areas. Dense-packing prevents settling of the insulation over time and avoids insulation gaps in the walls in the future. Cellulose is the most environmentally friendly among common insulation materials.
- Upon completion of work you will be presented with a Home Performance with Energy Star Certificate of Improvement – useful when selling the home, as well as an updated Home Energy Score.
Mold & Lead Testing for Your Home
In addition to what is included in our in-depth energy audits, we also offer mold testing and lead paint testing. Receive $100 off when you book mold or lead testing and a Sound Home Plan energy audit together. Click here for more info on lead testing services.
What Our Customers Are Saying
"CCI referred me to vetted contractors. They performed beautifully, treating my home with respect and providing additional energy-saving tips. We initially hoped to improve my home's energy efficiency score (HES) from 3 to 4. At my follow up [visit] my HES has jumped to 7. CCI rocks. Give them a call!" - Mary, Carnegie Homeowners
“Virginia from CCI was extremely thorough, friendly and knowledgeable. The informal comments during the inspection and the extensive report afterwards will save us more this year alone than the cost of the evaluation. I highly recommend their services.” - Steve, Point Breeze Homeowner
"The Sound Home Team found live knob and tube wiring that my old electrician missed. I'm glad to know CCI is there to make sure my project gets done right." -Chris, Mt. Washington Homeowner
"Over the past 15 years we had invested in new windows, solar panels, and a new furnace. But (the CCI) consultant found things we had overlooked. The evaluation exposed all sorts of wasteful points in our home of which we had been quite unaware...Go with CCI; you will be putting a lot of dollars in your pocket." -Nora & Cliff, Squirrel Hill Homeowners
"Simply put: having CCI conduct a Home Energy Audit was the best investment that I have made in my home. With CCI's stellar assistance, I have the confidence to maintain and improve my 100 year old home for decades to come. Thank you!" -Thomas, Forest Hills Homeowner
"CCI referred me to vetted contractors. They performed beautifully, treating my home with respect and providing additional energy-saving tips. We initially hoped to improve my home's energy efficiency score (HES) from 3 to 4. At my follow up [visit] my HES has jumped to 7. CCI rocks. Give them a call!" - Mary, Carnegie Homeowners
“Virginia from CCI was extremely thorough, friendly and knowledgeable. The informal comments during the inspection and the extensive report afterwards will save us more this year alone than the cost of the evaluation. I highly recommend their services.” - Steve, Point Breeze Homeowner
"The Sound Home Team found live knob and tube wiring that my old electrician missed. I'm glad to know CCI is there to make sure my project gets done right." -Chris, Mt. Washington Homeowner
"Over the past 15 years we had invested in new windows, solar panels, and a new furnace. But (the CCI) consultant found things we had overlooked. The evaluation exposed all sorts of wasteful points in our home of which we had been quite unaware...Go with CCI; you will be putting a lot of dollars in your pocket." -Nora & Cliff, Squirrel Hill Homeowners
"Simply put: having CCI conduct a Home Energy Audit was the best investment that I have made in my home. With CCI's stellar assistance, I have the confidence to maintain and improve my 100 year old home for decades to come. Thank you!" -Thomas, Forest Hills Homeowner
*The Sound Home Plan was formerly housed at Conservations Consultants Inc.