Home Energy Audit Can Uncover Energy-Usage Inefficiencies, Says New Hillsborough Energy Consultant

Pro Energy Consultant Franchise Owner Jim Neri recently opened his home energy auditing business in the Hillsborough-area. Vows to help homeowners go green, save energy and reduce their energy costs.

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. – Aug. 27, 2009 –For homeowners ready to go green, save energy and reduce their energy bills, then it’s time for a home energy audit. At least that’s how Jim Neri feels about it. Neri has just been awarded his own Pro Energy Consultants home energy auditing franchise, which happens to be the third such franchise in North Carolina. His territory covers Orange, Durham, Alamance, and Chatham Counties—as well as parts of Wake County.

Pro Energy Consultants, the nation’s first home energy auditing franchise, provides homeowners standardized, comprehensive energy audits designed to maximize the home’s comfort and energy efficiency while reducing energy costs. Franchise owners undergo extensive training at the company’s headquarters in Cleveland before beginning their business.

“My main interest is to help homeowners find ways to save energy and save money,” said Neri. “The fastest way to go green is to have a home energy audit. The energy audit gives you immediate recommendations to make your home more energy efficient.”

In doing audits, Neri says he’s found every house is different and presents different challenges. One of the common problems he’s seen are furnaces and duct work outside the thermal barrier of the home, but his comprehensive testing and technical equipment gives homeowners a clear picture of exactly where their home is losing energy, and therefore, wasting money.

“You may have a furnace in a 140-degree attic trying to cool the house down to 70 degrees,” says Neri. “But after having a home energy audit, the homeowner is now empowered to fix it, or at least empowered to know what needs to be fixed.”

So far, Neri’s customers have found the energy audit beneficial.

“It was fascinating to watch the audit, very educational. I'm glad I did it,” said Hillsborough resident Sue Stock.

Added Robert Coffin, also of Hillsborough, “I learned there are things that I can do to reduce my energy costs and have a more energy efficient home. The audit really pinpointed the areas where my home has leaks.”

Pro Energy Consultants uses state-of-the-art infrared imaging and blower-door testing to determine wasteful energy and the reasons for comfort issues (such as poor indoor air quality) in a home or facility. The process begins when an electronic blower door is installed in an exterior door. Once activated, the blower door allows the energy auditor to in essence take an “X-ray” of the home by using infrared thermal imaging to identify all the hidden building leakage areas—the real cause for excessive energy usage and major comfort complaints. A detailed report with prioritized recommendations for increasing the energy efficiency and comfort of the home is delivered to the homeowner within days of the energy audit.

“It’s great to have Jim as part of our team,” said Pro Energy Consultants Managing Partner Derek Sola. “North Carolina is a perfect market for us, that’s why we have several franchises already in the state. Homeowners here are looking for affordable solutions for solving their comfort issues and reducing energy usage.”

According to Sola, his company has experienced considerable growth since being founded in 2008. He attributes this to the nation’s increased focus on fiscal responsibility and energy conservation. For example, several states are beginning to subsidize and reward homeowners who make their homes more energy efficient. The City of Austin now requires all sellers of non-exempt residential properties within the city limits to complete an energy audit and provide an energy audit report to prospective homebuyers prior to the sale. Nevada has passed legislation making energy audits mandatory in the near future. Many more states are considering similar legislation. In addition, many states will receive millions of dollars this year in stimulus grants for energy-efficient projects, including weatherization of homes.

For more information, residents in the Hillsborough area can call (919) 257-1094 or 888-9PROENERGY (1-888-977-6363), or visit http://www.proenergyconsultants.com

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About Pro Energy Consultants
Pro Energy Consultants’ proven system for conducting energy audits is backed by more than 15 years experience and more than 10,000 energy audits. The company’s mission is to provide customized, comprehensive and diagnostic energy audits designed to maximize a home’s comfort and energy efficiency while reducing energy costs. This mission not only sets the worldwide standard for energy audits but also established Pro Energy as the world’s leading expert on the subject. In October 2008 Pro Energy began awarding franchises—making it the first national franchise in residential energy auditing. Being the ideal “green franchise” opportunity, it has quickly grown to more than 30 franchises nationwide. The company is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information, call 888.9PROENERGY (1-888-977-6363) or visit www.proenergyconsultants.com.

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