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with a large, red panel. A powerful fan mounts into the
frame and stimulates a breeze on all sides of the home
making it easier to see where cold air is getting in.
"There are cobwebs that are moving in the breeze,"
Duke said, peering into a basement closet during one
recent home energy audit. "This is something we see all
the time."
He also uses a smoke stick to help locate drafts. Dur-
ing the same audit, he held the stick up to a recessed
light. The smoke could immediately be seen blowing
in a downward direction from the ceiling, indicating
an air leak. A thermal imaging camera further helps
detect cold spots in the ceilings and walls. In some
cases, Duke can use the camera to actually see through
walls where insulation is missing or beams are exposed.
Sometimes, there's a major difference in temperature
from one side of a wall to the other.
"We specialize in solving home comfort concerns
once and for all," Duke says. "Instead of guessing when
to make home improvements, our home performance
tests use building science to find the source of energy
inefficiencies so effective solutions can be made. We
work with homeowners to create a comprehensive plan
for solving drafts, hot rooms, cold rooms, moisture or
whatever the concerns may be."
The company also performs lighting and appliance
reviews and free health and safety testing.
REBATES AND INCENTIVES
Go Green's home energy audits typically cost a few
hundreds dollars; but the utility companies offer re-
bates that help offset the cost, and the cost of the evalu-
ation is credited back toward energy saving improve-
ments made by Go Green.
The utility companies' deals change on a regular
basis, but at press time, Consumers Energy was offering
to pay back $100 for the audit itself and up to $5,000
in rebates for various energy saving improvements like
air sealing, duct sealing, basement wall insulation and
window replacement.
DTE offers free home energy consultations, where
workers will visit people's homes and suggest simple
energy-saving changes.
The state also offers low-interest financing (up to
$12,500) for energy efficiency improvements.
"It takes six-to-eight weeks to get the rebates," says
Duke, who adds that Go Green fills out all the paper-
work. "Our customers' average rebates is about $1,200."
So why are the utility companies helping an effort
that lowers the amount they end up billing customers?
They actually don't have much of a choice.
"Our goal is to help Consumers Energy and DTE cut
gas and electricity consumption to meet the renew-
able portfolio standard," Duke explains. "In October
2008, Michigan enacted a law requiring the utilities to
generate 10 percent of their retail electricity sales from
renewable energy resources by 2015."
Each year, according to the Michigan Public Service
Commission, our state spends more than $22 billion on
energy costs for coal and nuclear fuel, petroleum and
natural gas imported from other states and countries.
We were, however, listed as the "most improved state"
in 2011, according to the State Energy Efficiency Score-
card put out by the American Council for an Energy-
Efficient Economy.
"The more energy efficient we get, the more money
that stays in Michigan!" says Duke. "If we can cut down
our energy bills, it's more money in Michigan home-
owners' pockets to be put back in the local economy
and ultimately less coal that is mined and burned?' RT
Adam Duke looks for drafts during a recent home inspection.
For more information on Go Green Energy Consulting, call (248) 233-7933 or
go to www.gogreenec.com .
:0,
Go Green goes over every inch of a home to find opportunities for energy savings.
wwwsedthreadmagazine.com
RED TIMM I March 2012 13