Energy audits a good idea, but buyers, beware

Many Maine families have buttoned up their homes in advance of what’s likely to be another long – and probably costly – winter. It’s no secret that heating costs have gone up dramatically, and we’re all well advised to do what we can to keep those costs from making a bigger dent than necessary in our budgets.

For that reason, a Bangor-area consumer lined up a visit in early August from a representative of New England Energy Audit of Denmark, Maine. The representative spent about four hours in her home, taking digital photos to document the energy-saving steps to be taken.

Our homeowner asked a number of questions, hoping to get a head start on her list of improvements. She was told repeatedly, “I’ll cover that in detail in my written report.” At the end of the home visit, the auditor was given a check for $300, the full cost of the inspection and report that was to follow in about three weeks.

Sometime after that, our homeowner called the company – and called. Six calls, no response. She then sent a letter, return receipt requested, demanding either the report or a full refund. She sent copies of her documentation to Northeast CONTACT. We also called and have had no response.

About the time her letter arrived, she received a CD from New England Energy Audit. It contained a number of files, mostly detailing energy tips that might apply to many homes. Some had clear references to other states; our homeowner guessed much of the information had been taken from the Internet.

The software used to write the report was an older version of a program offered for download by the U.S. Department of Energy. According to the DOE, the program was “designed for state and local agencies and utilities” to help consumers save energy. There was no reference on the DOE site to commercial use of the software.

There was one file labeled “Final Report” that included a number of references to specific rooms or areas of our homeowner’s house. These references accompanied more of the same types of tips we saw in the generic files.

Our homeowner was unsure whether she got her money’s worth. She found none of the digital photos her inspector had taken and wondered if she might have been able to turn up the same information by Web surfing.

The Better Business Bureau has little to add. It has received one complaint regarding “delivery issues” and closed the file when the company did not respond to its inquiry.

Our advice to consumers: Shop around before you buy. Energy auditors need to be licensed in Maine. The Extension Service Web site, at www.extension.umaine.edu, has listings and links for energy-saving advice.

The Department of Energy site, www.energystar.gov, has a wealth of good information. You may also want to visit Gov. John Baldacci’s Web site, www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/index.shtml, for more do-it-yourself advice.

Whatever steps you take to save energy and money this winter, be sure to follow the experts’ advice and do it safely. Stay warm and safe, and enjoy the savings.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual and business memberships are available at modest rates. Interested and motivated prospective volunteers are always needed and welcome to apply to help with our mission. For assistance with consumer-related issues, including consumer fraud and identity theft, or for more information, write: Consumer Forum, P.O. Box 486, Brewer ME 04412, or e-mail contacexdir@live.com.