• Hi Guest: Welcome to TRIBE, the online home of TRIBE MAGAZINE. If you'd like to post here, or reply to existing posts on TRIBE, you first have to register. Join us!

Has anyone done a Energy Audit of their home?

greginhali

greginhali

TRIBE Member
I am thinking of getting a new furnace. I'm trying to go through the steps to get the provincial and federal rebates. Any tips?

What company in Toronto did you use?
 
D

DEEPHOUSEGRL

TRIBE Member
^^Yes, after receiving my $350 Hydro bill from July to Sept, I will definately invest in anything that will reduce the amount of energy I waste in the AC.

Sorry I don't have advice on furnaces at this time.
 
Subscribe to Cannabis Goldsmith, wherever you get your podcasts
K

kuba

TRIBE Member
I did an energy audit, got the money back for it, and was told what to do to qualify for further rebates.

I would suggest you do the same, as its time and money well spent when they assess the home's energy rating.
 
H

Hi i'm God

TRIBE Member
If these guys came could they lay out a plan and costs so that I can be making my own power and selling it back to the gov through Solar and Geothermal type projects?
 
Subscribe to Cannabis Goldsmith, wherever you get your podcasts
O

o0OemwaO0o

TRIBE Member
used enwise a year ago, but they aggressively tried to sell me their products - at rip off prices.

we didn't buy their stuff, and it subsequently took forever for them to get back to me for anything. I had no clue where I was at in the process of submitting forms, since all that work is done by enwise. It was quite an ordeal, and to make a long story short I had to get the Ministry of Natural Resources involved and make a formal complaint regarding enwise. I'm hoping enwise has learned from this and that nobody experiences the same problems I did.

so, a bad experience overall - but in the end i got a great deal on a new furnace and a/c (with a different company of course), and the rebates were awesome
 
J

Jeffsus

TRIBE Member
I was flagged by the electricity company for low consumption. They are sending a technician to check and replace the meters (read: make sure I'm not stealing power). Apparently they replaced my meters last year for the same reason.

I used 4kwh in August for a whole house. They say this is unbelievably low. I said "Then my bill should be cheaper."

My footprint is more like a freckle. Worship me, Vegan kings!

-jM
A&D
 
A

AdRiaN

TRIBE Member
Impossible. You can't even keep a case of beer chilled at 4 kWh per month, and that's assuming you drink in the dark (actually, scratch that last part).
 
J

Jeffsus

TRIBE Member
AdRiaN said:
Impossible. You can't even keep a case of beer chilled at 4 kWh per month, and that's assuming you drink in the dark (actually, scratch that last part).
Click to expand...

It's true! My average is about 9 to 13. August was less because I was gone half the month... but still. And I guarantee you can keep many beers cold. I'll show you the bill when you come to get PLASTERED AT OKTOBERFEST..

OOOM PA PA OOM PA PA

-jM
A&D
 
K

kuba

TRIBE Member
o0OemwaO0o said:
used enwise a year ago, but they aggressively tried to sell me their products - at rip off prices.

we didn't buy their stuff, and it subsequently took forever for them to get back to me for anything. I had no clue where I was at in the process of submitting forms, since all that work is done by enwise. It was quite an ordeal, and to make a long story short I had to get the Ministry of Natural Resources involved and make a formal complaint regarding enwise. I'm hoping enwise has learned from this and that nobody experiences the same problems I did.

so, a bad experience overall - but in the end i got a great deal on a new furnace and a/c (with a different company of course), and the rebates were awesome
Click to expand...

I wasn't forced to buy their product. They were quite pushy with it, but when comparing prices we saved over 40% using another HVAC guy. I was waiting in vain for my $250 rebate which finally came months later. Nonetheless the process was quite educational while he was in the home, and going through the audit.

We got quotes and shopped them around.

Speaking of energy usage- has anyone purchased a Tankless Water Heater? What have your bills been like instead of the full one?

Everytime I look at my water heater I want to kick it in the gut. Its pathetic to know that I'm paying for the water to sit there and just.... sit.

We're planning on staying in this home for 10 years or more so is it wise to invest in the change?
 
Subscribe to Cannabis Goldsmith, wherever you get your podcasts
S

screamy

TRIBE Member
I want a tankless water heater too. They don't make the model my condo has anymore and it is useless as fuck (three minutes in to a shower - with a low-flow shower head - it kicks in and runs for ten minutes).

Have I mentioned I hate Enbridge?
 
K

kyfe

TRIBE Member
kuba said:
I wasn't forced to buy their product. They were quite pushy with it, but when comparing prices we saved over 40% using another HVAC guy. I was waiting in vain for my $250 rebate which finally came months later. Nonetheless the process was quite educational while he was in the home, and going through the audit.

We got quotes and shopped them around.

Speaking of energy usage- has anyone purchased a Tankless Water Heater? What have your bills been like instead of the full one?

Everytime I look at my water heater I want to kick it in the gut. Its pathetic to know that I'm paying for the water to sit there and just.... sit.

We're planning on staying in this home for 10 years or more so is it wise to invest in the change?
Click to expand...


why not buy a tank and go solar? it's not that much to do I think HD sells the solar kit
 
L

lobo

TRIBE Member
kuba said:
Speaking of energy usage- has anyone purchased a Tankless Water Heater? What have your bills been like instead of the full one?

Everytime I look at my water heater I want to kick it in the gut. Its pathetic to know that I'm paying for the water to sit there and just.... sit.

We're planning on staying in this home for 10 years or more so is it wise to invest in the change?
Click to expand...

I've heard some pros and cons about tankless water heaters. The Home & Garden forum on RedFlagDeals has a few threads about this topic.

If I remember correctly, one of the cons of the system is that it heats your water instantly but for a giving amount of water pressure. So for example, you can have infinite hot water for a shower so long as you're not doing anything else that involves hot water. Open up the hot water in the kitchen sink and suddenly the unit has to provide hot water for two locations. This will reduce the amount of hot water available to both (shower & kitchen). Open up a third tap and you start to get the picture. Contrast this to a tank system where all 3 or more sources have access to the full hot water with the same amount of flow but you will obviously chew through it a lot quicker.

Somebody's pro is another's con so it all depends on how your home works. I think there are other issues as well like where to place the unit and stuff but check out that thread and definitely read up on it.

Lobo
 
K

kuba

TRIBE Member
From what I've read, the newer systems can accomodate up to three things at once.

As for solar, I don't think I have the know-how to do it.
 
V

Vise

TRIBE Member
Speaking of tankless water heaters, anyone have a reliable source to purchase/install? Thinking about getting one for our place if they are reasonably priced, we're staying here a while so would hopefully be worth it.
 
Subscribe to Cannabis Goldsmith, wherever you get your podcasts
T

tommysmalls

TRIBE Member
We just got a hi-efficiency Baxi combo boiler / water heater installed by the good people at World of Comfort. Great service, and we were able to lease it for $34/mth instead of paying the $4000 +/- sticker price. Highly recommended!
 
R

rod_g

TRIBE Member
greginhali said:
I am thinking of getting a new furnace
Click to expand...

Curious what brand and type are you looking at?

Im just starting to look at some options as our old grumpy furnace is from WW2. The High Efficiency Trane's look purty, and so compact too
 
W

Woody

TRIBE Member
great thread. I've been looking into tankless water heaters as well but have yet to take the plunge so to speak. The home energy audit from what I can tell is the way to go and once you have had the two visits once before doing the work and once after I believe the gov rebates you $150 towards the cost of it.
 
K

kuba

TRIBE Member
tommy, how long is the lease for?

I purchased a goodman a/c and furnace last year when reno-ing my old house. For a 94 rating furnace and 14 SEER a/c I paid $13000 including: all the dduct work installed, the hot water tank installed, and all the work. Truth be told the work was bundled together so I don't know what the actual units cost but I was very happy with their performance and service.

If anyone wants recommendations on an HVAC contractor, let me know I will send you who I used.
 
Subscribe to Cannabis Goldsmith, wherever you get your podcasts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top