Written by Eric Gans
I have completed over 2000 Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® home energy audits in Maryland, and I like to write about my experiences.
I've Been All Around Maryland Since 2006
One reason I left the hotel industry in 2006 was Beltway traffic. Little did I know that I would eventually be driving all over Maryland - and loving it!
One day, I might stop in towns like Shady Side, Germantown, or Bel Air. On other days, I could start in Prince George's County and end in Baltimore City. As I write this, last week, I began in Annapolis near the water and ended up in Sykesville on a farm.
Energy audit at a home in Annapolis on Crab Creek
Traveling to different communities regularly makes seeing similar types and styles of houses in various pockets more accessible.
For example, you will find many homes in Annapolis with a distinct beach cottage feel. Sometimes, the houses are insulated as if they are only occupied in summer. Nowadays, the house is occupied all year, but the insulation doesn't get any love!
Another example can be found in Bowie, where large neighborhoods are made up exclusively of Levitt homes, built on slabs with their furnaces next to the laundry machine. These houses were poorly insulated, and most homes with newer insulation still didn't get the treatment right.
In Columbia, Maryland, there are many Colonial-style A-frame houses with extensive attics and electric heat pumps that don't stop running on extreme weather days—and there is a common reason.
Common Issues Exist Amongst Similar Style Homes
Early exposure to many houses in Maryland before getting certified as an energy auditor has given me a considerable advantage when correctly diagnosing problems and recommending treatment for my customers.
Having so much exposure in advance, I have had much more time to focus on the existing issues and find the patterns and similarities surrounding the problems in each housing type. Knowing what is happening and knowing that it happens to so many others gives me the confidence to solve the problem.
Creating a Maryland housing style guide for insulation should help Maryland homeowners better understand the problems in different types of homes around where they live.
Same problem in two different Maryland attics.
Help You Discover Easy-to-Fix Problems in Your Home
One great way to improve your home's energy efficiency and overall comfort is to assess the ducts around your HVAC air handler quickly. These ducts are typically in the basement or a closet.
I often see significant gaps and holes in HVAC ducts near the handler. These issues are low-hanging fruit that doesn't require an energy audit to learn about and fix.
Audits uncover common, easy-to-fix inefficiencies.
Another example is a split-level house with an attic access panel on a vertical wall. It could be in the staircase, linen closet, or bedroom closet. Typically, those panels are not properly insulated and sealed, making the upstairs more uncomfortable.
Learn How an Energy Audit Might Help You
One of the biggest challenges for most people is keeping an open mind, especially about what we are all supposed to know—like how to take care of our homes.
After an energy audit, I can feel my customers' gratitude and appreciation flowing. I know that I have enlightened them on some level regarding the source of their issue—and it makes a lot of sense.
So, if you still think it is windows and doors or a shiny, new HVAC, you might be missing the point, making you a great candidate for the assessment!
The Guide's Purpose
Learning about everyday problems and solutions in similar houses is a great starting point. This process could help you see the connection between the value of the energy audit and how it can help educate you and set you on the right path toward better comfort and energy efficiency.
Find a home near you (by county) that has similar characteristics:
Anne Arundel County
Annapolis
1957 Annapolis Split-Level
1960 Cape St. Claire Colonial Style
1989 Split-Foyer Hanover
Crofton
1990s Crofton Colonial Style
Baltimore City
Baltimore County
Catonsville
1957 Split-Level Catonsville
Middle River
1990s Middle River Single Family with Garage
Carroll County
Harford County
Fallston 1970's Colonial with Addition
Howard County
Columbia
Columbia 1969 Contemporary Rancher Style
Columbia 1980s Colonial Style
Woodstock
Woodstock 1990s Colonial Style
Montgomery County
Bethesda
Bethesda Pre-1950 Colonial
1984 Rockville Townhouse
Prince George's County
Bowie
Bowie Old Levitt Cape Cod
