Eco Facts
Mandatory Austin Energy Multi-Family Energy Audits
The City of Austin Mandatory Multi-Family Energy Audit
Includes: Mandatory City of Austin energy audit, which includes exterior visual inspection, interior visual inspection, insulation inspection, and heating and cooling air duct leakage test.
Price: The price of a multi-family property ECAD audit depends on the size and number of the property's units. Please contact us at 512-879-3567 or info@austinauditors.com for more information.
The basics of the mandatory energy audits for multi-family properties:
The Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance requires Austin multifamily properties that receive electricity from Austin Energy to have an energy audit by June 1, 2011.
Certain multifamily properties may be exempt from the City of Austin energy audit requirement if they meet certain conditions. The multifamily property does not need an Austin Energy energy audit if it meets one of the following:
- The property is less than 10 years old on June 1, 2009
- The owner has completed comprehensive duct remediation work through the Austin Energy rebate offering within 10 years before June 1, 2009
- The owner has replaced air conditioning equipment for all units through the Austin Energy rebate offering within 10 years before June 1, 2009
The ECAD ordinance defines a multifamily property as a property with five or more dwelling units.
Additional Energy Audit Services for Multi-Family Properties
Blower Door Test
Determine how much outside or attic air leaks into your building. For well-sealed homes and buildings, determines whether there is sufficient replacement of the interior air.
For more info go to: Energy Savers or Home Energy
Why get this test?
Many buildings have unnoticed holes that let the cold air out during the hot summer and let the cold air in during the cold winters. These holes can cause your heating or cooling system to run inefficiently and can reduce your building's indoor air quality.
Heating and Cooling Air Duct Leakage Test
Determine how much conditioned air that your A/C and heating system's ducts are leaking. Determines sufficiency of insulation encasing your duct system. As additional option, the inspector can locate the major leaks in your duct system.
For more info go to: Energy Conservatory or watch this video
Why get this test?
Leaky ducts can be a significant source of energy loss and inefficiency. The average duct leakage for an American home is 27%. An acceptable level of duct leakage should be in the 10% to 15% range.
External Static Pressure Test
Examine the static pressure across the air handler. Determines the efficiency of the air handler and the duct design.
Why get this test?
Static pressure in a HVAC system is the same thing as blood pressure in your body. This test involves taking the air pressure on either side of a component of a duct system. To find pressure drop, simply subtract the two pressures. The difference is the pressure drop of the filter, coil, fitting, or duct run. When the manufacturer rates a fan, at say 0.50-in. W.C., and the system measures 0.83-in. W.C., airflow will typically be at 70% to 75% of capacity. At that airflow, heat transfer suffers significantly and the system performs poorly. Systems do not operate well outside of the manufacturer's specifications. Another interesting fact is that the higher the AFUE or SEER, the worse the equipment will operate at low airflow.
System Air Flow Test
Examine the air flow of the air conditioning system. Determines the actual air flow of an air conditioing system versus what the air flow should be based on design and given conditions.
Why get this test?
A/C systems should be designed to produce an air flow to rooms based on the room�s use, size, and position in the house. Depending upon the size of the duct feeding the grill, one can estimate the CFM that it was designed to produce. Quite often, systems were not and still are not designed to produce proper air flow. Among other things, an improperly designed system can make rooms uncomfortable due to temperature and can cause high pressure differentials between areas in the home.
Exterior Visual Inspection
Examine the quality of shading and windows. Look for moisture problems. Examine drainage around house. And more...
Why get this test?
Living in a sunny and hot climate, the use of solar shading can be one of the most economical ways to increase a home's efficiency. Moisture and poor drainage can seriously reduce the lifespan of your home or building. Moisture can also be the source of health problems.
Interior Visual Inspection
Look for potential air leaks or air infiltration. Examine windows. Look for moisture problems. Examine ventilation and exhaust fans and their sufficiency.
Why get this test?
Air leaks and air infiltration can reduce your building's efficiency. Moisture can cause health problems as well as structural problems for your building. Ventilation is an important component to a building having a high indoor air quality. The use of ventilation to dilute contaminants, filter the air, and control the source of the indoor air is one of the primary methods to improving indoor air quality in most buildings.
Attic Inspection
Examine existing attic insulation and determine quality of the insulation and the installation of that insulation. Look for moisture problems.
Why get this test?
Insulation helps keep a building comfortable and reduce costs for heating and cooling. Generally, the attic is the most important area of insulation. The building will not be as comfortable and energy costs will be higher if sufficient insulation is not installed or is not installed correctly. Even though it is fairly simple to install, insulation is installed incorrectly surprisingly frequently.
Combustible Gas Leak Inspection
Examine appliances that use combustible gases for potential leaks. Examine potential for backdrafting on appliances due to pressure changes.
Why get this test?
If an appliance is leaking combustible gas, it can be both dangerous and potentially deadly. It is infrequent for an appliance to leak a combustible gas, but it is always best to be prudent, especially if your appliance is older or in disrepair.
Carbon Monoxide Examination
Determine building�s interior air quality with regards to carbon monoxide. Examine combustible appliances for release of carbon monoxide.
Why get this test?
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas that is the byproduct of the inefficient burning of natural gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill a person before they are aware it is in the ambient air. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. Around 200 people die every year from exposure to CO produced by non-automotive consumer products. To put this in perspective, approximately 60 people die a year from being struck by lightning.