Electrification of existing homes is a hot trend, and rightfully so with all the latest incentives for residences and businesses to transition to electric. Anyone working in the retrofit field is likely – sooner or later – to be asked to help a homeowner with this process. While it can be straightforward, more often it entails some challenges.
Enter the home assessment.
Home assessments are a critical piece of the electrification puzzle because it helps determine the feasibility, safety, and efficiency of transitioning a home from traditional fossil fuel-based energy systems to electric-powered systems.
Let’s dive into a few of the focus areas:
- Load analysis – A home assessment involves evaluating the current energy usage and load requirements of a household. It helps identify the energy needs for various appliances, heating, cooling, lighting, and other electrical systems. This analysis enables homeowners and professionals to understand the capacity required for an efficient electric system and plan accordingly.
- Electrical infrastructure – A thorough home assessment examines the existing electrical infrastructure, including wiring, panels, and circuits. It helps identify any deficiencies, safety issues, or potential upgrades required to support increased electrical loads.
- Energy efficiency – Home electrification often aims to improve energy efficiency by utilizing electric appliances and systems that are more energy-efficient than their fossil fuel counterparts. A home assessment can identify areas where energy efficiency improvements can be made, such as replacing outdated appliances, optimizing insulation, or upgrading lighting systems. These improvements not only reduce energy consumption but also result in cost savings for homeowners.
- Safety considerations – Transitioning to electric systems requires assessing the safety of a home’s electrical infrastructure. Professionals can identify potential hazards, such as outdated or faulty wiring, and recommend necessary upgrades or repairs. Ensuring electrical safety is crucial to mitigate the risk of electrical fires, shocks, or other hazardous situations.
- Renewable energy integration – Home assessments can evaluate the potential for integrating renewable energy sources, most often solar, into a home’s electric system. Assessing factors like available space, sun exposure, and local policies allows homeowners to make informed decisions about renewable energy generation and its integration with the existing electrical infrastructure.
- Cost analysis – An assessment provides homeowners with an estimate of the costs associated with home electrification. It includes equipment costs, installation expenses, and potential savings from energy efficiency improvements. This analysis helps homeowners evaluate the financial viability of the projects and make informed decisions.
In this live webinar, Ann Edminster, Owner and Founder of Design AVEnues, will walk learners through the key steps in home assessments:
- Establishing homeowner goals & expectations
- Investigating and documenting
- Recommending & prioritizing solutions
- Providing resources
No matter what your role — HVAC installer, architect, HERS rater, electrician, general contractor, or other — this webinar will help you anticipate those challenges and prepare to navigate them with your clients.
The live Home Assessments for Decarbonization webinar will be Wednesday, June 21, 2023 from 3-4pm EST. The webinar link can be found inside the course classroom. If you can’t make the live webinar, you can still enroll and watch the recording the day following the live session.
