Hoffman Estates offers home energy inspections

Hoffman Estates is experiencing another brutal day of heat and humidity. Is your air conditioner working overtime to cool your house because of window and door air leakage? Are your appliances old, inefficient and not Energy Star rated?

Hoffman Estates is offering voluntary energy assessments for single-family homes older than 1995. The assessment will help determine how much energy your home uses, and it will assist in building a program to improve energy consumption.

Through a federal grant, the village has been able to train inspectors to become certified energy analysts, and to purchase the equipment necessary to conduct energy assessments. These assessments are being offered at a reduced rate from the normal cost, and a rebate is returned if any of the recommended improvements are completed.

An assessment typically consists of: an interview to see if there are any noticeable problems; an energy bill review and analysis; window assessment; lighting analysis; an energy consumption review of appliances; a home air-leakage measurement; analysis of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems; combustion gas and carbon monoxide analyses; exposed insulation inspection; a computer modeling analysis and a final report.

Contact the Code Enforcement Division at (847) 781-2631 to schedule an appointment. The cost for the assessment is $100, with $50 rebated if any of the improvements are completed.