A new application for iPad and iPhone recently was released by London-based mobile software developer Qreative Medias that provides quick assessments of any home's energy efficiency based on the guidelines of three performance certification programs.
Designed for ease of use and accuracy, the Home Energy Performance app can be used by homeowners, home buyers, builders, remodelers, architects, and other pros to evaluate the energy efficiency of a particular house by inputting its construction and system details—such as building and structure type, orientation, ventilation, thickness and type of insulation, and climate control systems—interpret the results, and access recommendations for performance improvements. The app also allows users to generate a PDF report of a performance assessment and e-mail it from the iPhone or iPad. Home Energy Performance, developed for use in the United States, the United Kingdom, and all of Europe, calculates home energy performance and ratings based on the rating systems most commonly used in each region. For example, the U.S. version of the app is based on the guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program and the Department of Energy's Building America program.
The app could be particularly useful for performing on-the-spot audits of new or older homes without a current certification to provide a general idea of performance, circumventing the need to hire a licensed assessor or verifier—although results don't constitute certification, Qreative Medias points out.
The Home Energy Performance app is now available for $3.99 from Apple's iTunes App Store.
