A professional auditor can use a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy efficiency of your home. Thorough audits often use equipment such as blower doors, which measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope, and infrared cameras, which reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation" (Home energy audits, 2009, EPA).
Follow-up
Following up with satisfied customers (and unsatisfied customers) also enables better quality control and helps the builder more effectively target what aspects of the business require improvements. Submitting questionnaires asking the customer about his or her satisfaction regarding the process of buying the home, followed by similar surveys a year after living in the home can provide 'testimonials' about the pleasure and value accorded by green living. Posting such real testimonials on websites and other literature can show that real people in the real world enjoy living green.
There should also be follow-up...
The EPA is a good source of recommendations, of course, but attending green home shows and keeping abreast of industry developments is also vital.
Works Cited
Build it green announces partnership with the California Real Estate Inspection Association.
(2009). Build it Green. Retrieved April 25, 2009
http://www.builditgreen.org/news-and-press-center/build-it-green-announces-partnership-california-real-estate-inspection-associa
Green building course. (2009). International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Retrieved April 25, 2009 at http://www.nachi.org/greenbuildingcoursereleased2007.htm
Home energy audits. (2009). EPA: Energy Star. Retrieved April 25, 2009 at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_audits
