New Akron-based Home Energy Auditing Business Plans to Help Homeowners Go Green and Save “Green”

Pro Energy Consultant Franchise Owner Matt Pickston recently opened his home energy auditing business in the Cleveland metro area. He says a home energy audit should always be the first step in making a home more energy efficient and can often save a homeowner from making expensive, unnecessary repairs.

AKRON, Ohio – April 23, 2010 –Local residents will soon be hearing a lot more about how home energy audits can solve home comfort, excessive energy usage and poor indoor air quality issues, thanks to professional energy auditor Matt Pickston. Pickston was recently awarded a Pro Energy Consultants home energy auditing franchise locally.

“An energy audit helps homeowners on so many levels,” said Pickston. “It’s always a good feeling when I leave an energy audit knowing I’ve helped the homeowner resolve comfort issues and/or high energy bills they’ve had for years. Plus, every home energy audit has an impact on the environment.”

Pro Energy Consultants, the nation’s first home energy auditing franchise, acts as an unbiased, third party as it diagnoses home performance issues for homeowners. The company, backed by more than 11,000 energy audits, also offers homeowners a guarantee. If, at the end of the test, homeowners don’t feel they’ve received valuable information about their home, then the energy audit is free. To successfully diagnose home performance issues, the company’s energy auditors first undergo extensive training at its Cleveland headquarters, followed by eight weeks of distance training.

Some of Pickston’s customers, like Kevin Waldron of Macedonia, found the energy audit saved them from spending money on unnecessary repairs. Waldron was experiencing comfort issues and inconsistent temperatures in his one-story, 1800-square-foot, 50-year-old home. He couldn’t keep his 3-bedroom home warm in the winter, and his monthly heating bill would peak out at about $250.

“I was ready to spend around $10,000 on new windows, as I was sure they were the source of all my heat loss,” said Waldron.

However, the energy audit revealed the main reasons for the heat loss were a large gap around the chimney in the attic floor allowing conditioned air to pass freely in and out of the attic and into wall and floor joists, poorly installed insulation, inadequate sealing of the basement fireplace chimney damper, and poor sealing of the attic hatch.

Now, Waldron will invest about $2,000 to redo the attic sealing and insulation this winter.

“If I had spent the $10,000 on new windows, my house would still have the same energy efficiency problems because 90 percent of my problems are in the attic,” he said.

The energy audit starts with the homeowner explaining the specific home performance issues he or she has been experiencing. Next, an electronic blower door is installed in an exterior door. Once activated, the blower door allows Pickston to in essence take an “X-ray” of the home by using infrared thermal imaging to identify all the hidden building leakage areas. The entire process takes approximately one to three hours. A detailed report with prioritized recommendations for maximizing the energy efficiency and comfort of the home is delivered to the homeowner within days of the energy audit.

“It really takes a comprehensive, diagnostic energy audit by a professional using sophisticated equipment to remove all the guesswork and pinpoint what’s causing the,” said Pickston.

“It’s great to have Matt as part of our team,” said Pro Energy Consultants Managing Partner Derek Sola. “Homeowners 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. One state, 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 Akron area can call (330) 239-8500 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 the comfort and energy efficiency of homes and “light” commercial buildings 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 energy auditing. Being the ideal “green franchise” opportunity, it has quickly grown to more than 50 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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