Frequently Asked Questions
- Is my home eligible for the audit?
- What about apartment buildings?
- How do I sign up for an audit?
- I thought audits were going to be offered starting in September. Why do I have to wait until January?
- I'm already on the waiting list, having signed up in May. Will I get an audit based on when I signed up?
- On which days will the audits be scheduled, and how long will it take?
- What qualifications will the auditors have?
- What do I get for my $95?
- What if I can't afford $95?
- I thought the City was in a budget crisis. How can the City afford this program?
- What's the difference between an audit and weatherization?
- Do I need an audit to do weatherization?
- Does Seattle City Light have financial incentives for weatherization?
- Is there anything like this available now?
- Who performs the energy-efficiency upgrades? Does the city pre-qualify contractors?
Answers
Q1: Is my home eligible for the audit?
A1: Single family residential homes in Seattle City Light's service territory will be eligible, no matter what their heat source. Audits will be available to duplexes, triplexes, and four-plexes as well.
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Q2: What about apartment buildings?
A2: Seattle City Light offers incentives for window, insulation, and lighting upgrades for apartments and condominiums. Visit Multifamily Weatherization and Lighting Rebates for more information. Free services are available to income qualified buildings through the City's Office of Housing at (206-684-0268).
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Q3: How do I sign up for an audit?
A3: You may sign up to be on our waiting list by filling out and submitting the following web form, or by calling 206-684-3800. We hope to have a list of certified auditors from which you may choose from ready by January, 2010. When that list is ready, we will contact you and you may schedule your audit directly with that company.
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Q4: I thought audits were going to be offered starting in September. Why do I have to wait until January?
A4: We had hoped to begin scheduling in August and begin actual audits in September, but there has been a delay in receiving the federal stimulus funds needed to hire staff. In the meantime, since the Mayor announced the program on April 22nd, our waiting list has been growing. We now have over 800 customers who want an audit. The Mayor recently announced additional budget cuts for this year, so in the interim, we will be conducting 100 audits by the end of year. That means most of the customers on our wait list will not receive audits until 2010.
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Q5: I'm already on the waiting list, having signed up in May. Will I get an audit based on when I signed up?
A5: We will use the date by which you called as a factor in scheduling your audit. However, those customers with above average yearly energy usage may be given higher priority at our discretion.
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Q6: On which days will the audits be scheduled, and how long will it take?
A6: Audit appointments will be scheduled Monday through Saturday. The audit may take between 2 and 4 hours, depending on what the auditor finds and the size and complexity of your home.
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Q7: What qualifications will the auditors have?
A7: All audit providers will be required to meet minimum education standards and pass certification exam by the Building Performance Institute. In addition, audit companies will be required to be licensed, bonded and insured.
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Q8: What do I get for my $95?
A8: You get a whole home performance evaluation of your current energy use and energy conservation potential. This includes both a report on cost effective measures for future investment, as well as an energy performance rating – essentially a "miles per gallon" score that allows your home to be compared (based on energy performance) to similar homes throughout the region. You will be provided with suggestions about how you can reduce your energy bills by making simple changes in your energy use. This is approximately a $600 value.
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Q9: What if I can't afford $95?
A9: The audits will be offered at reduced rates or free to residents who meet certain income qualifications. To see if you qualify, visit the Office of Housing´s HOMEWISE program or call 206-684-0244.
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Q10: I thought the City was in a budget crisis. How can the City afford this program?
A10: The majority of the costs for this program are coming from Federal Stimulus funds passed down to the City of Seattle by the Federal Government. The rest of the funding comes from City of Seattle and Seattle City Light energy conservation budget.
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Q11: What's the difference between an audit and weatherization?
A11: An energy performance audit will provide you with a comprehensive analysis of your home's specific energy attributes (windows, insulation, weather-stripping etc.) and heating systems. Weatherization features will be analyzed in the whole home audit. You will also receive information on how various energy-saving upgrade options interact with each other; the audit will prioritize efficiency upgrades that are most appropriate for your home. In addition, you will be provided with a home energy performance rating, which will allow you to compare your home to others, as well as to value any upgrades you choose to pursue (through an increase in your home rating).
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Q12: Do I need an audit to do weatherization?
A12: While you can conduct simple weather stripping activities and install insulation in your home without an audit, the home performance audit will provide you with information on how much insulation you need to achieve a certain level of energy savings as well as other opportunities to increase your home´s energy efficiency, so you can make the investment that makes sense for you.
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Q13: Does Seattle City Light have financial incentives for weatherization?
A13: City Light does not currently have incentives for weatherization, but is planning to offer them in early 2010 to encourage actions recommended by the audit. The Office of Housing (206-684-0244) offers free weatherization services to income eligible residents.
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Q14: Is there anything like this available now?
A14: The Office of Housing (206-684-0244) offers weatherization services to income eligible residents. Seattle City Light offers an on-line service called the Home Resource Profile, a customized report that analyzes your actual energy and water bills. And Seattle City Light´s "Do It Yourself Home Energy Audit Guide", takes you step-by-step through your home to help you identify the most cost-effective actions you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your home.
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Q15: Who performs the energy-efficiency upgrades? Does the city pre-qualify contractors?
A15: Our audit teams will also be able to provide you with a list of pre-qualified contractors meeting specific standards for quality and efficiency focused on the specific measures most appropriate for your home.
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