Yes, Energy Check is owned by Ed Tuchler, a longtime Blacksburg resident and owner of the premier building company, Shelter Alternatives, Inc.. Our offices are located on Progress Street in downtown Blacksburg, and we are active members of Downtown Blacksburg, Inc.'s merchant association and the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.
Energy Check was created in 2007 as an off-shoot of Shelter Alternatives, which has been leading the way in Green Building for the New River Valley of Virginia since 1988. As the expertise of their designers and builders grew in the area of building science and energy efficiency, owner Ed Tuchler wanted to establish a way for their remodeling clients to have the tools needed to re-address their home as a system and make good decisions about where to spend home improvement dollars. We also love the idea that we are helping our community learn how they impact the environment and make positive changes.
We are in the business of improving the health, comfort, safety and energy efficiency of your home and we provide the answers you need to get there. A BPI certified Energy Auditor can use a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy efficiency of your home. Our comprehensive audit utilizes 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. Simply, it puts you on a path to saving money and energy while improving the health and safety of your family and the durability and efficiency of your home.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR offers "whole house' solutions to reduce both your energy costs and carbon footprint. Installing energy efficient upgrades through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program in your home can save up to 30% on energy costs and increase the comfort, safety, and durability of your home.
A home performance contractor is specially trained to do the job right. By retrofitting your home, based on a "whole house" approach and your priorities, we can help make your home more comfortable, warmer, and safer while saving you money on your utility bills and helping the planet.
The cost of a Energy Check home energy audit varies from a starting point of $350.00, den ping on the size and systems in your home. The cost of the retrofit work varies dramatically, based on the house and the homeowner's needs. Click here to estimate the price of your Energy Check audit.
If you have already had a home energy audit performed by another company, we can provide a retrofit plan for you as a standalone service. We also offer hourly consultation services to homeowners, architects and design/build firms, and remodelers.
The initial Home Energy Audit visit takes 4 - 5 hours, depending on the size of your home, the tests being performed and number of questions you have. It is great when you are able to be present for an introduction and to observe the testing (it's fun) but it is not necessary for you to be there. After the diagnostic phase is completed and we have cleaned up, our auditor prepares a full report with observations ,diagnostic results and photographs of your home. If you are available,we sit down with you and review the entire report and answer any questions. Our work will be completed in the most timely and professional manner possible.
Not anything mandatory but it helps to think about your problems and priorities. . Things to think about; iIn preparation for the assessment, please close all windows and exterior doors. To get the best infrared results, we need a 10 degree difference between inside & out. If possible, please turn on the heat or AC, prior to our arrival, to achieve that difference. Also, it is important that you do not have a fire in your wood stove or fireplace (if you have them) within 24 hours of the assessmentand and it's best if there are no ashes present, and exotic birds must be moved during the test for their safety (low temperatures can affect a bird's health).
Only that we have access to where we need to go – otherwise, we aren't concerned about your housekeeping (we've seen a lot). We are here to help you and your home.
Call us at 540-443-9966 and we will be happy to take your information and find a time and a plan that works for you or send us a message. We are typically two weeks out, and schedule appointments Monday – Friday at 9am or 1pm.
Home Expo at the Christiansburg Rec Center March 9, 10 & 11
If you think you are eligible for Federal Tax Credits for Energy Effciency work through Energy Check and need help, just give us a call
"I was very impressed by the work done by the crew of Energy Check."
Plan to join us at the Home Expo at the Christiansburg Rec Center March 9, 10 & 11