Interested in having an A.W.E.-some house? We can help you with that!
Assess. Weatherize. Electrify.
Do this first!
The Home Energy Assessment
Green Building Specialists offers a full line of home assessment services for single-family homes (including townhomes, condos, and apartments) and 1-4 unit multi-family dwellings, from initial consults, examination, and testing, through to recommended plans of action.
Our services can be applied to any home whether old, recently remodeled, newly finished, or still under construction. Our goal is to offer practical solutions to make your home more comfortable, safer, healthier, more valuable, and less expensive to operate. Better for you... better for the planet!
Green Building Specialists is a Participating Contractor in the NYSERDA Residential Energy Assessment program. Owners of one-to-four family homes in New York State are eligible to receive a no-cost* energy assessment. Click here to learn more about the NYSERDA program.
*Homes larger than 3,000 sq ft or those with complex construction may incur a surcharge for additional time needed to complete the assessment.
Our Service Areas
We service the following Mid-Hudson counties:
Orange
Ulster
Sullivan
Dutchess
Putnam
If you are outside our service areas and are interested in the no-cost NYSERDA Home Energy Assessment program, please consult the NYSERDA participating contractor list to find a firm closer to you.
Please note that locations beyond a 50-mile radius of our home office in Pine Bush, NY will incur a travel surcharge.
Our Certifications and Affiliations
What We Do
Blower Door Testing
Using a specialized fan set up in a doorway, we assess just how "leaky" a house is. "Too leaky" means too much air is exchanged with the outside (air that you just paid to have heated or cooled). The blower door test gives us a specific test of overall air exchange and allows us to FIND those leaky spots for treatment. Blower door tests provide an important baseline metric before insulation and air sealing work is started.
Thermography
Infrared cameras are an invaluable tool to 'look into the walls' to locate under-insulated sections of the house as well as pinpoint air leaks. This tool is often most effective when combined with a blower-door test. We use thermography whenever possible.
Energy Modeling
This includes assessing the insulative and air sealing envelope around your house: Attic and wall insulation, windows and doors, rim joists, bonus rooms, your HVAC systems, electrical usage, and more. Using modeling software, we combine it all into a comprehensive comparative report for you to understand your home and make educated decisions about upgrade options.
Duct Blaster Testing
HVAC ducting throughout a house may have a number of small leaks or some catastrophic leaks. Duct blaster testing targets your HVAC system to measure how well or poorly it sends the heated or cooled air to where it is intended. This is often a very important test to have done for new construction BEFORE drywall goes up.
Leak Detection
Many homes have natural gas or propane (LPG) leaks, either outside or inside the house. Very often, homeowners cannot smell these leaks, and do not know they are there. We check the lines for leaks and will flag spots for tightening/repair. For new construction, you can be ensured that new lines are installed properly. These leaks lose money, can cause health problems, and in severe cases are an explosion hazard.
Combustion Testing
Natural gas, propane (LPG) or oil appliances and furnaces/boilers are tested to ensure they meet standards for carbon monoxide emissions, efficiency, and drafting. This is not only for measuring efficiency, but a test for any health and safety concerns.