PO Box 3792 Salisbury, MD 21802
Business Hours: By Appointment
(410) 603-4901
Energy Assessments
HERS Ratings
Diagnostic Testing
Energy Code Compliance
Home Performance Contracting
FAQ'S
Why have an Energy Assessment?
There are many reasons to get an Energy Assessment, but the foremost is control. The average person spends 90% of their time indoors, yet surprisingly the average person has minimal control over that environment. This lack of control results in a number of side affects: moisture/condensation problems, increased asthma and allergy triggers, unbalanced heating and cooling, higher fuel and electricity bills, and higher maintenance costs. These in turn can drastically affect the comfort and durability of your home as well as the productivity and monthly expenses of your business.
An Energy Assessment gives you the accurate data and strategies you need to make informed repair and investment decisions for your home. Additionally, an assessment is one of the few investments you will make in your home that will not only pay for itself (typically within the first year), but also provide a means for genuine improvement to the environment you spend 90% of your time in.
Why should I choose Atrix for my home?
Atrix Sustainable Improvements offers Energy Assessments with no bias or strings attached. We offer full contracting and management services of any upgrades you choose, but we are not affiliated with any specific products or service providers (Heating/Cooling contractors, insulation installers, window installers, etc.). In other words, our primary focus is ensuring that our recommendations are tailored specifically to your home and your budget (or no budget at all), and not tailored to a specific service or product. In our eyes, the best assessment report is one that contains only low/no cost items that immediately make your home more comfortable and less costly to live in.
Additionally, if you do want to make a larger investment in your home, we can walk you through the remodeling/retrofitting process from start to finish. Armed with the data from your Energy Assessment and a thorough knowledge of building science, sustainable practices, and 3-D computer modeling, we can ensure your project success.
Are there grants or rebates available?
Absolutely! The Federal Government, State Governments, and local energy companies all offer rebates or grants on a variety of energy efficient appliances and other measures (insulation, sealing air leaks, heating/cooling upgrades, appliances, etc.) to improve energy efficiency in homes. Many of these programs require a home energy audit to determine areas of inefficiency and then offer financial assistance to improve those aspects of your home. Atrix is a licensed home improvement contractor, employs BPI Certified Building Analysts & Envelope Professionals, and is approved to complete energy assessments for a number of grant programs. Grants are constantly changing so please check our Resources page under "Grants/Incentives" for listings of grants, tax credits, and other incentives in Maryland and Delaware.
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations (US EPA).
At Atrix, everything we do looks at the impact it will have on the environment around us, both now and in the future. When remodeling there are ways to save energy and money, improve air quality, and create less of an impact on the environment around us. Sometimes these changes are free or low-cost, while other involve a larger financial investment upfront to gain larger returns in the future. We can help you weigh the options and choose what works best for you and your home.
Is "green"/sustainable remodeling more expensive?
No. Sustainable retrofits are typically of equal or lower cost. As with any remodeling project, there are a wide range of product choices available to homeowners that vary in price. Sustainable remodeling can range from reusing materials such as reclaimed flooring or cabinets, to high end recycled or naturally renewable products. We can work with you to provide a range of options that will work with any budget.