A home energy assessment starts with a free walkthrough of your home. We look at your insulation, air sealing, heating system, and comfort issues, and give you a clear roadmap to the efficiency improvements that will have the greatest impact. No equipment, no obligation. If you move forward, diagnostic testing like blower door tests happens as part of the work itself.
A home energy assessment is a walkthrough of your home by an experienced energy advisor. We look at your insulation, air sealing, heating system, and comfort issues, and give you a clear roadmap to the efficiency improvements that will have the greatest impact. No equipment, no disruption, no obligation.
In Maine, a professional assessment is the foundation of any Efficiency Maine weatherization project. It establishes what your home needs and which improvements will deliver the greatest return, so you can make smart decisions about where to invest.
An energy assessment is not a home inspection. A home inspection evaluates structural and safety issues for real estate transactions. An energy assessment focuses specifically on thermal performance: how well your home retains heat, where air leaks likely exist, and which improvements will reduce your energy costs the most.
Our assessment is a walkthrough, not a diagnostic test. It typically takes about an hour:
We discuss your concerns, heating system, energy bills, and comfort issues. This helps us focus on the areas that matter most to you.
We examine the attic, basement, walls, windows, and heating system. In the attic, we check insulation type, depth, and condition. In the basement, we evaluate rim joist insulation, foundation walls, and moisture conditions. No equipment needed at this stage.
We assess your heating system's type, age, condition, and efficiency. If a heat pump or high-efficiency boiler upgrade makes sense, it will be included in your roadmap with cost and rebate calculations.
You receive a clear roadmap to the efficiency improvements that will have the greatest impact on your home, with pricing and available Efficiency Maine rebates.
If you move forward, blower door testing and IR imaging happen as part of the actual job. We use them to target detail areas and to verify the effectiveness of the improvements we make. You never pay for testing that does not lead to real improvements.
For more detail, see our guide: What to Expect During Your Free Home Energy Assessment.
At Horizon Homes, we offer energy audits at no cost to homeowners in Greater Portland and surrounding communities. There is no obligation to proceed with any work after the audit.
We offer free assessments because they are the most effective way for homeowners to understand their options and for us to provide accurate proposals. The audit pays for itself through the Efficiency Maine program, which requires documented baseline measurements before rebate-eligible work can begin.
If you are looking for a standalone energy audit from other providers in Maine, expect to pay $200 to $500 depending on the size and complexity of the home. However, most Efficiency Maine registered contractors (including us) include the audit at no cost as part of their service.
Within a few days of the visit, you receive a detailed report that includes:
The report is yours to keep regardless of whether you choose to proceed with any work. Many homeowners use it to plan improvements over time rather than doing everything at once.
We start with a free walkthrough of your home. We look at your insulation, air sealing, heating system, and comfort issues, and give you a clear roadmap to efficiency with pricing and rebate calculations.
Maine has specific conditions that make energy audits particularly valuable:
Maine has the oldest median home age of any state. Many homes in Greater Portland were built before modern insulation standards existed. A 1920's Colonial in Deering Center has different energy challenges than a 2010 ranch in Scarborough. The energy audit identifies what your specific home needs, rather than applying generic recommendations.
Maine homeowners spend $2,000 to $5,000+ per heating season, depending on fuel type, home size, and insulation quality. With heating oil recently hitting $4.83 per gallon, the cost of doing nothing continues to rise. An energy audit shows you exactly where those dollars are going and which improvements deliver the highest return. More on reducing heating bills in Maine.
Efficiency Maine offers up to $8,000 in insulation rebates and up to $9,000 for heat pump installations. But accessing these rebates requires a professional energy audit as the first step. The audit documents your home's baseline performance, which Efficiency Maine uses to calculate rebate eligibility. Full guide to Efficiency Maine rebates.
Maine is in climate zone 6, one of the coldest in the lower 48. Building code requires R-49 in attics (about 16 inches of cellulose) and air leakage below 3 ACH50 for new construction. Most existing homes fall well short of these standards. The energy audit measures the gap between where your home is and where it should be.
Horizon Homes provides free home energy audits throughout Greater Portland and Southern Maine, including:
Most homeowners are on our schedule within one to two weeks.
About an hour. We walk through the attic, basement, and living spaces with you, looking at insulation, air sealing, and heating systems. No equipment, no disruption.
Yes. There is no cost and no obligation to proceed with any work. We offer free assessments because they are the most effective way to provide accurate recommendations and ensure Efficiency Maine rebate eligibility.
Yes. The auditor needs access to the interior, attic, and basement. The initial conversation about your home and concerns is an important part of the process.
A home inspection evaluates structural and safety issues (roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing) for real estate transactions. An energy audit focuses on thermal performance: insulation levels, air leakage, heating system efficiency, and energy cost reduction opportunities.
We present our findings and recommendations honestly. If improvements make sense for your home, we explain the options with clear pricing and rebate calculations. If your home is already in good shape, we tell you that too.
Yes. Efficiency Maine requires a professional energy audit with blower door testing before and after any rebate-eligible weatherization work. The audit documents your home's baseline performance and verifies that improvements meet program standards.
Stop guessing. A home energy audit replaces assumptions with data and gives you a clear path to lower heating bills, better comfort, and available rebates.
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