Providing Texas with
the Best Energy
Inspections

For a quote, we need to know what stage your project is in: design or construction. We need to know the square footage and the type of building (retail, residential, office, warehouse, etc.).

A duct test is performed by sealing all supply ducts in an HVAC system and pressurizing the duct system
so that the air leaking from the system can be measured.

A duct test may be performed at any stage of the project as long as the ductwork has been installed and sealed; however, the optimal time for duct testing is prior to wall concealment, as this allows for easier identification and correction of deficiencies found in the system during testing.

A blower door test depressurizes a building, apartment, or space so that the amount of air leaking
from it can be measured.

Blower testing is typically done at the final stage after all punch work has been completed.

At a minimum, we suggest all plan sets list the insulation values, window schedule (with u-factor and SHGC values), lighting schedule and layout, and mechanical schedule with model numbers.

Commissioning is the process of verifying the installation and function of an installed system, such as mechanical equipment or lighting, but it may be applied to almost any building component that the owner wishes. Commissioning a system ensures that the installed system meets the manufacturer's specifications and that the functionality meets the owner's requirements.

Energy code inspections cover all energy-consuming systems in a building and compare the observed systems with the values provided by COM/REScheck. Lighting is inspected for functionality, wattage, and proper controls such as occupancy sensors and daylighting reduction controls. Mechanical equipment is also checked against the COM/RESchecks and the ability to control the system with a programmable thermostat. Insulation and air sealing measures are inspected for quantity and quality.

A COMcheck or REScheck is a document created from a project's plan set to determine if the chosen buildingcomponents create a system that meets the minimum requirements of the energy code.

An energy model is an advanced computational tool, similar to COMcheck, primarily for commercial buildings. It mathematically estimates a proposed building's energy usage against a code-compliant baseline. This allows designers flexibility through "trade-offs" (for example, offsetting less-efficient windows with a more-efficient HVAC or lighting system) by evaluating the building's systems holistically. Energy models are complex, but Blink Energy Services can help determine the benefits for your project.

The more information provided, the better. Because an energy model is a mathematical model of the energy consumption of a building, having more information available to include in the model creates a more accurate result. The core requirements can be boiled down to envelope values (insulation & windows), chosen mechanical equipment, and lighting.