Energy evaluation could help save money

Sparta residents can get a professional Home Energy Evaluation from their smartphone, and Sparta Electric Company is encouraging them to do so.

“I would recommend anyone with extremely high electric bills, older homes, anyone that would be interested in ways to save on their electric bill participate,” manager Belva Bess said. “The evaluation will give them custom recommendations base on their home energy efficiency rating. The more things they complete, the more their savings will be.”

Using Augmented Reality (AR) technology, a Home Energy Advisor from Energy Right, will evaluate any home in the Tennessee Valley as the resident or homeowner does a walk through for them. During the evaluation, the advisor is given a virtual tour through the home to look at things like lighting, refrigerators, electric water heaters, windows and doors, insulation, duct work, HVAC, and more. The homeowner/resident is in complete control of the tour and has the capability of pausing the video and/or audio at any time so that they are only sharing the parts of the home they wish to be seen. During the tour, the Home Energy Advisor will collect the information needed to create a custom report and make energy-saving recommendations.

After the virtual tour and evaluation, a home’s energy efficiency will be ranked on a scale of 1 to 10, and, along with the report, a resident/homeowner will receive customized and prioritized recommendations for ways to improve their home’s energy efficiency, but the help doesn’t stop with the report. Over the following year, the advisor will continue to follow up and make sure an individual has what they need to improve the home’s efficiency, including access to the Quality Contractor Network where they can hire TVA approved contractors to complete any home energy upgrades that were recommended. Additionally, financing for home energy upgrades may be available.

While this program is only available for residential homes, Bess said there may be help for businesses as well.

“This program is a Residential Energy Right program, but TVA has other Energy Evaluations for businesses and Industries,” she said.

For more information, residents are encouraged to contact Sparta Electric Company or visit www.EnergyRight.com