Home Performance FAQs
What is the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance?
The Energy Alliance is a 501c3 non-profit organization focused on energy efficiency. We provide reduced cost energy assessments and financial assistance for energy efficiency improvements. The Energy Alliance works with local contractors to analyze and implement your home’s energy needs.
What is an energy assessment?
A home energy assessment, also known as an energy audit, is a comprehensive survey of your home’s energy use. Our assessors use diagnostic tools to find air leaks in your home and analyze the efficiency and safety of your furnace and other combustion systems. It takes about 3-4 hours depending on the size of your home.
What services does GCEA provide to residents?
We provide reduced cost assessments at $50, performed by certified contractors that typically have a market-rate value of $300-500 per assessment. Following the assessment, you are provided a report with recommended improvements sorted by those measures with the fastest return on your investment. For measures that provide enough energy savings to offset their initial cost, the Energy Alliance provides direct incentives of up to 35% of the job cost.
Through quality assurance visits on our contractors, we ensure the highest quality of work is being completed on your home.
How can I benefit from the federal tax incentive?
Through 2011, a federal tax credit is available for energy efficient products like central air conditioners, heat pumps, insulation, and water heaters. After your assessment, your home performance contractor can point you in the direction of the tax incentives that match your project. Information about the 2011 tax incentives is available at www.energysavers.gov/financial.
Can I use my own contractor to install my home energy improvement measures?
In order for us to ensure the highest quality of work, only home energy improvements completed by Energy Alliance approved contractors are available for incentives.
Do I have to install all of the recommended measures to access GCEA’s home improvement subsidy?
No. After ensuring your insulation levels are sufficient and your home’s drafts are reduced (the two most cost effective ways to reduce your energy usage), you can choose any energy saving measure on your report with a savings-to-investment ratio of 1.0 or better. This means the measure will reduce your utility bill over its lifetime by at least as much as it costs to install.
I do not have cash available for the recommended home improvements – are there finance options available?
Yes, there are energy efficiency loan options available for both Ohio and Kentucky residents, including our GC-HELP loan program.
Can you help me understand my assessment report?
The home performance contractor that completed your home assessment can best explain each item detailed on your assessment report. If you need additional information regarding your report, please contact our office at 513-621-4232 and ask to speak with our Residential Services Manager.
How do I know your contractors are qualified and will provide a good bid?
Our contractors are certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI), a leading energy efficiency certification nonprofit. The Energy Alliance ensures that our certified contractors are insured, professionally qualified, and have a full background check to provide high quality work for you. The Energy Alliance regularly tests home performance improvements and reviews each contractor’s bids for quality control.
Why haven’t I been contacted to schedule my energy assessment?
If the home energy contractor you chose has not been in contact to schedule your assessment, you are free to select another energy assessor from the list on our website. If you need assistance contacting any of our home performance contractors, please email us at: info@greatercea.org.
Why did I not receive my assessment report?
Please contact our office at 513-621-4232 and provide the Residential Services Manager the name of your contractor and we will connect you as quickly as possible.
