Legitimate Work From Home - Why You Need to Look at Energy Auditing

Given the fickle state of the global economy, it is no wonder that people are interested in legitimate work from home prospects. But, obviously some prospects are time wasters, others are real. The area of energy saving is certainly a real opportunity.

I don't need to tell you that the global financial crisis has highlighted the fact that employment can be very unstable. Even professional people can be laid off regardless of their experience or qualifications.

This new reality has led many of us to think seriously about our employment situation and to look for ways to be more in control. Working from home and being your own boss is a great way to take your career into your own hands.

But only if you get the basics right!

Of course, working for yourself does involve a degree of risk, depending on your investment in it. And there are many scammers online trying to fool people into sinking their money into a dodgy home business venture. So don't be fooled when researching legitimate work from home businesses.

Growth in Home Business Opportunities

The way that we think about employment has changed significantly in recent years, largely as a result of the internet and improved communication methods. People are now able to create their own online business which enables them to effectively communicate with customers and develop a profitable company.

The internet has also made professional training a lot easier by eliminating the need to commit to attending college or university in order to attain qualifications. Online training opportunities make it a lot easier for you to study in a convenient time and place, while improving your career prospects.

If you have a great legitimate work from home business idea, but you're not sure how to implement it, there is a mountain of material online that can assist you in getting started. You can websites that guide you through the step-by-step process of creating your own e-business and making the internet work for you. Do your research for a successful work from home business.

People and companies are now also using the internet to outsource much of their administrative and technical work, rather than hiring full-time employees. Using these services cuts costs and time you can spend on the bigger picture.

Stay at your present job and supplement your income. Or jump into your new venture full-time.

Energy Auditing as a Legitimate Work from Home Business.

One of the legitimate work from home opportunities that has received a lot of attention in recent years is energy auditing.

Energy auditing and working from your home is a winning combination: You combine working your way with the urgent need for households and businesses to save energy.

It can be easy to complete energy auditing training online, depending on the course you choose. You may use this certification to start your own energy audit business or take a job.

This line of work is well suited to working from home. Start-up costs are very low, there is a growing demand for energy audits and you can do it by yourself or build it up and have people working for you.

Energy auditing is a legitimate work from home business that can be rewarding in many ways.

Individuals and businesses need to save money on electricity and implement alternative energy systems on their properties. Energy auditors have the professional knowledge to guide the public through this process.

This knowledge is valued as awareness of rising costs of finite fossil fuel reserves and alternative solutions grows.

AlternateEnergySources.com has long been concerned about the effects of global warming. We use our experience in practical approaches towards alternate energy sources to survive and thrive with climate change. See http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com/home-energy-audit.html

Home Energy Services - Why Every Home Should Have an Energy Audit

Regardless of the type of home you live in, there are ways to improve your home to make it more efficient. With a few tweaks here and there, houses, both new and old, can be improved and can save homeowners a considerable amount of money each year. Think about how much money you spend on energy services each year:

? Do you think there are actions you could take to reduce energy consumption and your electricity bill?

? Do you know of any issues related to your home that you need to address but have yet to?

? Do you know how much money per year you could save by simply making a few small changes in your home?

? Do you know what steps to take to make your home more efficient?

Homeowners can easily find all the answers to these questions through a home energy audit. While some will advocate that you can do it yourself, it is best to leave it to the professionals. You may be able to do the basic quick fixes around the house, but the professionals will find the best methods to improve your homes efficiency.

For most homes, an energy audit will be the first step in the sustainability journey. And, the truth is that every home should have an energy audit. The results of the audit could make a huge difference in your utility bills.

How does an energy audit work?

An energy audit on your home involves going over it in detail in search of energy inefficiencies. Home energy service companies will conduct a comprehensive assessment with the aid of diagnostic instruments to identify potential areas for improvement. An energy audit can take between 2-6 hours depending on the size of your home and the issues that are discovered. Some of the assessments include:

? An inspection of all relevant equipment and appliances

? An analysis of your utility bills

? An Assessment of the building envelope's heat transfer and air flow

? An Analysis of the impact of occupancy, use, and weather on the building

? An Inspection of all windows, doors, and other fenestration

Once the assessment is completed, home energy service companies will perform an analysis of the data they have collected and create a report of their findings. Based on these findings, a customized

sustainability project plan will be developed for your home. This plan will take into account your budget, needs, and specifics related to your home.

Advantages of getting a home energy audit

There are a number of advantages to having an energy audit performed on your home:

? You could become eligible for tax rebates and financial incentives to aid with installation of green solutions for your home.

? You could considerably decrease your energy bill

? You'll receive professional recommendations on how to increase your home's efficiency

? Improving your home's energy inefficiencies will pay for itself relatively quickly

For more great information and tips on Home Energy Services, please visit http://www.ecosmartsolutionsltd.com.

EcoSmart Solutions is a one-stop-shop for your green building needs. Whether you're interested in inexpensive measures like having your attic insulated or you're considering generating your own electricity with solar panels, we have you covered.

EcoSmart Solutions... putting the "eco" in economical.?

Energy Inspections and Audits

Part 1: Save On Your Heating and Cooling Bills

What are energy audits and inspections? An energy inspection or audit is designed to assess various aspects of a property, in order to save the customer money on the household energy bill. The efficiency of appliances, mechanical systems, the structure's envelope and the home's orientation are evaluated to design the best plan for creating a more energy efficient home. Audits are typically more comprehensive as they incorporate infrared technology, a blower door test and computer analysis, in order to accurately pinpoint problem areas in a home. Short and/or long term plans can be designed. The use of the client's yearly energy bill is helpful in creating such a plan.

Household appliances and fixtures are assessed by examining their input/output ratio. Typically, Energy Star upgrades are recommended where appropriate (an upgrade can reduce energy usage by 40%) and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs-these convert about 20% of the electricity flowing through them to light vs. the 5% that incandescent bulbs convert). These decisions are based on the short and long term needs of the homeowner. In addition, the mechanical systems such as the heating/cooling, ventilation and thermostat are also assessed.

One of the most important concerns of the energy inspection or audit is to assess the structure's envelope. This refers to the barrier between the interior and exterior environment. The quality of the structure and its ability to maintain temperature efficiently and regulate moisture and air flow are key areas of concern. The energy audit includes inspection of the foundation, roof, walls, doors and windows. The specific condition of the components and the types of materials used is assessed as related to air leakage and to determine the R-factor of these components. (The R-factor refers to the component's thermal resistance.). Recommendations are then made as to how to improve on the quality of the envelope's components. These recommendations could include adding insulation, energy efficient windows, sealing doors and windows, insulating the hot water heater and water lines, and sealing and insulating ducts transporting hot and cold air.

Typically, the results of the inspection or audit include a report of the findings as well as recommendations on how to improve the energy efficiency of the home. Reports generated by an audit normally include infrared photos which document the report findings. Short and long term recommendations are made and yearly follow-up assessments scheduled according to the homeowner's needs.

Part II

What Can You Do Right Away?

It's important to consider that making your home more energy efficient can save you money. Many utility companies provide incentives to customers for energy efficiency. In the USA, homes use about 20% of the total energy. Of this amount, heating and cooling your home uses about 44%, lighting and appliances about 33%, water heating 14%, and refrigerators about 9%. All in all, your energy efficiency should be at least 30-40% above the local building codes.

Right away you can take care of any obvious leaks with sealant and insulation. Then, use smoke on a windy day to locate the smaller leaks that are not easy to find. If you are modifying the insulation in your ceilings or attic, for example, you should aim to raise the R-factor to R-50 or R-60, despite the minimum required by local building codes.

Survey your windows. If there are obvious areas of leakage or they are not airtight because they are old, single pane or have aluminum or steel frames, then you should consider making some changes. The cheapest method is to add storm windows or to install Plexiglas along the inside of the windows. Plexiglas is a lot cheaper than glass and also conducts heat more slowly than glass

Don't forget about all those appliances and electronic devices that use electricity even when they are not in use. Theses phantom loads waste a significant amount of electricity. You can plug them into a power strip and then turn off the power strip, when they are not in use.

Peter Ottowitz

Certified Master Inspector

Infrared Certified - Level I Thermographer

Certified Level I & II Mold Assessor by Indoor Environmental Standards Organization

Certified Allergen Screener

Member National Association of Certified Home Inspectors

Certified Environmental Data Resources Provider

American Building Sciences Academy, Barre, VT

Snell School of Thermography, Montpelier, VT

MBA, Amos Tuck School, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

MSEE, Northeastern University, Boston, MA

BSEE, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA

http://www.newworldenergyaudits.com

http://www.masshomeinspect.com

New World Home Inspection Services provides you a unique and convenient set of skills, including extremely thorough home inspections, environmental testing and energy audits.

With our ability to detect serious environmental concerns, we have redefined the expectations for traditional home inspection. Whether you're a home buyer looking for the industry's best home inspection or a homeowner with environmental worries you'd like to address, look no further. Advance Look is the only call you'll ever have to make.

How to Get Into the Energy Audit Business

Starting your own energy audit business is a real option for anyone that wants to get involved in a secure, green career.

This is one industry that is expected to continue to grow, even in times of economic downturn, when people are more focused on saving money.

This gives you a virtual guarantee of job security, regardless of the overall financial outlook.

Working as an energy auditor has many significant advantages. You can be your own boss and the training can be relatively straight-forward and fast.

Start-up costs? Minimal.

You can also position yourself at the forefront of a developing energy-saving wave. It could be your energy audit business as a local leader in this emerging field.

A Range of New Business Ideas

Training to work as an energy auditor opens up a wide range of possible career opportunities. Some of these include:

Self-employed Home Energy Auditor - provides energy efficiency advice for residential properties.
Self-employed Commercial Energy Auditor - provides energy efficiency advice for commercial properties.

Energy auditor employed by a Utility Company.

You would provide regular home energy auditing advice for customers of a utility company. Utility companies are now realizing the popularity of energy auditing and offering it as an additional service for their customers. This is a good reflection of the growth of the energy audit business.

Energy auditor specializing in Alternative Energy.

You would provide energy advice for people interested in installing an alternative energy system (such as solar, wind or geothermal power) on their property. Consumers often need help understanding how to make the best use of these systems and how to successfully integrate them with other energy sources.

Energy auditor specializing in building design and construction.

You would provide advice to architects and builders about how to make buildings more energy efficient. They may also conduct assessments of newly built properties in order to give them an energy rating to guide potential investors. This is one aspect of the energy audit business that is very important as investors are now very interested in learning the energy efficiency of a property before purchasing it.

Because conducting energy audits is such a new industry, you have a lot of freedom to determine the path that you want your career to take.

Carefully check the components offered by various training courses to find the one that best aligns with your interests.

When researching the best energy audit training courses, check whether they include units on the general principles involved in running your own business. You will need to learn about marketing, tax and public relations in order to successfully run your energy audit business.

You should also consider whether the course has been accredited by a reputable organization. Certification by the National Energy and Sustainability Institute (NEASI) for example. This means that once you complete the course you are eligible to sit the NEASI Home Energy Audit Certification Exam. Such certification provides additional credibility for your business.

AlternateEnergySources.com is concerned about the effects of global warming. In particular we use our own experience in practical approaches towards alternate energy sources to survive and thrive in our environmentally disabled world. See http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com/home-energy-audit.html

Your Home Is Wasting Energy! You Need a Home Energy Audit!

Welcome to the Home Energy Guide series of articles on how to make your home more Green and Energy Efficient. With each article we highlight an important topic in making your home more energy efficient.

This article's topic is Home Energy Audits. Your home is an energy hog! New homes, old homes, refurbished homes...all are losing energy! The typical American home loses a minimum of 30% of the energy used to heat and cool it. Home Energy Audits are the exact place to start when beginning to make your home more energy efficient. These will highlight all the key areas that affect your home energy performance and most importantly you and your family's comfort!

Symptoms of a home that is not energy efficient are drafty rooms, moisture around the windows, inconsistent home temperature between rooms, excessive dust and of course high energy bills. A Home Energy Audit can find the source of these issues. This takes out the guess work and allows you to fix what is wrong the first time rather than through trial and error. It's kinda one of those things where you don't want to really know how bad it is and it will just make you depressed. But one piece of advice, don't waste your time or money on an audit if you aren't prepared to do or get the work done.

So you are ready for a Home Energy Audit? These audits come in two forms: Self Assessment and In Home Audits. A self assessment is one that you, the homeowner, do usually through an online site. You can usually find these on your local utility's website or through local, state and local government energy websites. The Pros of these types of tools are that they are free and quick to administer. Cons are that the information provided by these home audits is very general (they cannot give specific details about where you are losing energy) and only as accurate as the homeowner enters. In Home Audits are administered by a professional where he uses tools such as a Blower Door, Duct Blaster and possibly an Infrared Camera (an absolute must in my opinion). They will do a series of diagnostics and enter the information into specific software used for Energy Audits that give you accurate information on how leaky your home is and exactly where those leaks are located.

An Energy Auditor should be sanctioned by either RESNET (Residential Energy Service Network) or BPI (Building Performance Institute). These agencies directly partner with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. Trust me, you do not want a "weekend" home improvement specialist performing these tests. And you never should take bids to fix the problems from your energy auditor, as that is probably a bit of a conflict of interest, don't you think? Okay, so pros of this type of audit are that you will get a complete understanding of where your home is inefficient and you will get a detailed report showing you such. The sole con is that these audits usually range from $300 to $500 depending on the size of your home and the exact type of information you are looking to find. But you will usually get this money back after you make the energy saving improvements to your home.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend any more highly the value of a professional home energy audit. You will find out where and how to make your home more energy efficient as well make the world a bit greener as your home will be using less energy.

Stop Wasting - Start Saving!

Thank You,
Brian Dick

Brian resides in the United States with his wife and two children. In addition to his freelance writing on various subjects of interest, he has recently published his own website outlining detailed information on how to detect and correct home energy losses in your home. HOME ENERGY GUIDE His site specifically gives details on Energy Audits, proper weatherization techniques, energy efficient windows, specific insulation specifications and so much more.

Energy Auditing Training - Why Seven Trends Make it Just Right For Goldilocks

Goldilocks says energy audit training is "just right" for her - and for her husband. What is so "just right" about it? Well, it's much more than the chair, the bowl of porridge and the bed.

Becoming an energy auditor builds on at least seven growing trends and opportunities that have come together to make this a low-risk, rewarding and lucrative occupation, or business. Lets have a look at why this is...

First, what do energy audits do?

Energy audit training equips the student with skills to help people with rising energy-cost problems that are growing as we speak. An energy assessment in a residential home, commercial or public building identifies where energy is wasted.

When acting on an energy audit report the building owner will on average save around 30% or more on their power bill.

Goldilocks trends and opportunities

These are the trends that Goldilocks finds so enticing:

Energy costs - your electricity bill and gas bill - are going up and will continue to go up. Rising fossil fuel costs and high renewable energy costs combine to make this an inevitable reality. Everyone needs to reduce their energy use! They want energy auditors to help them do that.
Climate change forces a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions globally.
Governments everywhere are offering generous incentives to have energy audits done to save their economies, both to save money and create new, green, jobs. A free energy audit anyone?
There are a 109 million homes and 5.6 million small businesses in the US alone, in need of reducing their energy cost to stay in their game competitively.
Energy audits for new buildings are already mandatory in some places, and this will increasingly happen.
Energy efficiency training may take only a short time in order to become a fully certified energy auditor, from a zero knowledge base in this area.
Training can be in face-to-face classes, or online career training, where the second option adds low-cost and convenience to other benefits of taking energy audit courses. Some energy audit training courses teach you how to set up as a small energy auditor business as part of their training.
I told you it's more than kept Goldilocks happy back in those days where the three bears' home did not run any gas or electricity!

Energy management is a buzzword like never before. In small business and big. One famous US beverage producer for example, committed itself to saving 5.6 million kilowatt hours by just replacing its lighting system in 24 of its facilities in 2009.

Self-employment is on the rise

According to a Yahoo, Hot Jobs article, energy auditors can earn between $70,000 and $106,000 per year. Not bad. So why is the US GDP still growing in the face of continuing job losses? Well, people are taking to becoming self-employed. 126,000 Americans did so in the last quarter of 2009.

Energy audit training is just one such opportunity in a rising "green" market. Many will take it in 2010 and beyond. It is not one of the best careers for the future. It is it now.

Dr Erik Leipoldt has long been concerned about the effects of global warming. In particular he uses his own experience in practical approaches towards alternate energy sources to survive and thrive in our environmentally disabled world. See http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com/home-energy-audit.html.

Restaurant's Energy Audits

The good news is, simply because foodservice uses so much gas and/or electricity, you're automatically an essential customer to your power provider. You are able to leverage this clout to use the utility's expertise, which can assist you to manage your business. Power businesses often supply cash rebates, low-interest loans for gear updates, and free design and technical advice. You may as well get to know them! In fact, you should have a contact person at every public power (or, in deregulated markets, your Retail Electric Provider) with which you do company.

An energy audit is the process used to determine how your facility uses power and where savings might be obtained. There are simple, walk-through audits done by power providers at the request of customers. A lot more detailed analysis audits might require the services of an engineer or consultant. Walk-through audits are usually free of charge. The service provider's representative will already have info about your average bills when he or she comes out to inspect the property, look at your food preparation and storage gear, ask about habits and procedures, and suggest improvements you could make.

Some suggestions (such as replacing an appliance or adding insulation) may price cash. Of course, regardless of whether you act on the audit results is up to you. There's typically a charge for an analysis audit, since it requires gathering a lot more detailed information about the types of heating and cooling systems and appliances, and even the illumination levels of the lights in your dining room. The data is input into a computer, which may suggest:

Structural or style modifications to your building

Replacing or retrofitting some gear

A target electric rate that's "best" for your specific company

Frequently a financial analysis of each from the energy conservation measures (ECMs) is provided, so you can compare the price to the potential payoff over time. The recommendations are designed to give you lots of choices. For instance, let's say you have recessed lighting in the dining room ceiling, and also the audit suggests it's inefficient. You could:

Change from incandescent light bulbs to more efficient, reflector (R) or ellipsoidal reflector (ER) bulbs. Paint the room a lighter color, which would be more reflective and consequently require less artificial light. Install more light switches or dimmers, to better control individual areas or rooms. Lower the ceiling height. Install skylights or light tubes. Who performs these audits? A call for your utility organization or REP should get you started. One advantage the power has is that it can track the history of energy use at your site even before you got there. If it utilized to become another restaurant, this might be very helpful. There are also private firms listed in the telephone directories under Energy Management and Conservation Consultants. When selecting a private contractor, it's important to ask:

What they charge

Exactly what the fee includes

Whether they represent a variety of equipment manufacturers (so they're not just

trying to market you their personal brand of system or appliance)

If they are qualified as Certified Energy Managers (CEMs) by the Association of

Energy Engineers

For sample reports and references

Often gear manufacturer's representatives will provide a no-cost energy audit as part of their "introductory service." Remember, even though their advice may be free, they're attempting to sell you their products. Some restaurateurs challenge their personal employees to self-audit, finding the greatest ways to save power. Walk-through self-audit forms have been developed by numerous power businesses. Not each line will apply to each restaurant or foodservice company, but it could be a thorough starting point. Involving your staff in power management is really a very wise move, not only simply because it's profitable but simply because it is a responsible method to do company.

Make it the topic of some staff meetings. Give employees an incentive, and let them try their personal walk-through and report on their findings, as often as every six months. You may be surprised at what they come up with! Just keep in mind, particularly with a brand-new business, there's no substitute for the expertise of a utility organization or contractor. If you can find changes to be made, a thorough power audit will assist you to prioritize them. It also could be the groundwork for future planning, including project financing, compliance with government regulations, and LEED certification (the Leadership in Power and Environmental Design program).

Franco Zinzi has been involved with online marketing for nearly 3 years and likes to write on various subjects. Come visit his latest website which discusses of Restaurant Fridges and Jenn Air Fridges for the owner of his own business.

Energy Audit Diy - New Green Product

Energy Audits are very popular and great for the Diy Green Market. Promote on PPC or to your Green Email List. We have Downsell, Upsell and strong conversions. For affiliate support, email affiliate@easy-energy-audit.com

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