HVAC Business and Certified Energy Auditing

I haven't had experience with this, but I'd like to comment anyway.

I'm a painting contractor, and due to work slowing down, and since I have the tools and knowledge, I've started doing carpentry, plumbing and basic electrical in addition to painting.

Bottom line.......everyone's interested in saving money and everything's going to keep going up. Anything you can do to enhance your business and give you an edge over your competitors, is worth doing.

Aside from the knowledge, I wouldn't think it would cost you much to expand into this field of work. Caulking, weatherstripping, pipe insulation, etc.

Sounds like a great way to boost your bottom line and provide a valuable service to you're costumers.

Also, I'm sure you have times of the year that get slow. This could also provide a way to keep you're people working!

Thanks for the feedback! And yes our work load is beginning to slow down right now actually, as it normally does in the upcoming winter months.

Actually, to me this sounds like a natural fit for an HVAC business. In my part of the world, air conditioning typically represents as much as 60% of energy costs for a building. If you are going to conserve energy/reduce costs, it makes sense to start where the greatest potential for return would be. Of course, other parts of the world could easily see a different percentage of electricity used for AC or heating, but unless we are talking of some sort of operation like a restaurant or clothes cleaning operation or other energy-hungry process, indoor environmental control is likely to be a major consumption factor...

Right - the building needs to be looked at as a whole - not in bits and pieces.

Power losses can be great if a building is not sealed, insulated, ventilated properly etc.

Traditionally the HVAC man kept his nose in his section only but the time for that is past.

Most people/businesses have little idea where their energy consumption really is or how much it can be reduced.

For the newbie, the different heat pumps, insulations, lamps etc are very confusing and many just drop the whole idea after seeing many conflicting opinions on the net and from salesmen.

My uncle started doing energy audits when the housing market crashed. He owns Sycamore Construction in Indianapolis. The company is a carpentry company. They mostly did framing and remodeling. He is getting federal grant money to do the energy audits at low income housing. It has helped maintain his standard of living and keep him busy during these slow times. Also, I have been through the industrial energy auditor training from when I was doing P2 assessments.

Personally, I think HVAC and energy audits go hand-in-hand. The primary energy use in a home is the HVAC system. Also, I have seen many homes including the one that I live in that have poor ventilation. These houses are rapped so tightly and have no source of outside air. It interferes with the bathroom exhaust fans and causes moisture problems. IMHO, there is no better way to bring in outside air than through the already in place HVAC system.

I'm glad you started this thread. A lot of great points are being made.

I'm actually thinking of looking into this training for myself. I think I'd enjoy it, more on a residential scale, though.

Auditing, building condition assessments and feasibility testing all lead to design and installation work so it is a good fit for HVAC companies.

There is, however, a potential for conflict of interest - and this has been recognized by Natural Resources Canada who licenses auditors who can qualify building owners for grants and incentives. HVAC companies were offering 'free audits' if you ended up installing their over priced equipment...

My experience with my company Village Technologies is that building owners want a whole systems approach, and to deal with as few people in the design and installation business as possible. If a company can go in, tell building owners where the opportunities lie, make an economic case for upgrades, and then get it done - that company has a great chance to own the customer relationship through this job and others into the future...