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
At Green Building Specialists, we help homeowners take control of their energy use with expert home assessments. Whether your home is old, newly remodeled, or under construction, we provide practical solutions to improve comfort, efficiency, and indoor air quality while reducing energy costs.
As a Participating Contractor in NYSERDA’s Residential Energy Assessment program, we offer a no-cost energy assessment for eligible homes in New York State. This provides a solid starting point for understanding your home’s energy performance.
For homeowners planning upgrades like insulation, air sealing, or heat pumps, our Comprehensive Home Performance Assessment ($500) includes advanced diagnostic testing, heat load calculations, and a detailed action plan to ensure you get the most accurate data for smarter upgrades.
Learn more about our energy assessments
*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.
