What does an independent home energy assessment actually include?
When a home is cold, expensive to run or affected by condensation, it can be difficult to know where to start. One installer may recommend a larger heat pump. Another may suggest solar, insulation, double glazing or a new hot-water system.
Each recommendation may have merit, but it usually considers only one part of the home.
An independent home energy assessment takes a whole-of-home view. It considers how the building, major energy systems, household routines and future plans interact, then turns that information into clear priorities.
Here is what clients can expect from a Tasman Energy Advisory assessment.
Before the inspection
The process begins before the property visit. Clients complete a short questionnaire covering:
- the main comfort or energy concerns;
- who lives in the home and when it is occupied;
- heating and cooling habits;
- hot water, solar, batteries and electric vehicles;
- condensation, moisture or ventilation concerns;
- planned renovations or equipment replacement; and
- the outcomes that matter most.
Where available, clients are also asked to provide 12 months of electricity bills. For homes with smart meters, solar or batteries, more detailed data can add significant value, including:
- electricity import and export interval data;
- solar-generation history;
- battery charge, discharge and state-of-charge data; and
- details of the current electricity tariff.
This allows the site inspection to focus on the issues most likely to matter rather than beginning with a generic checklist.
During the inspection
The on-site assessment combines a conversation with a practical, non-invasive inspection of accessible areas.
Understanding the home and the people using it
Good advice begins with the client’s priorities. A technically efficient solution is not useful if it does not suit the household, budget or future plans.
The discussion may cover:
- rooms that are difficult to heat;
- when and where condensation occurs;
- how long the property will be retained;
- renovation plans;
- changing occupancy;
- electric-vehicle intentions; and
- whether comfort, running cost, resilience or emissions is the main priority.
Building fabric
Where accessible, the inspection considers:
- ceiling and roof-space insulation;
- suspended-floor insulation;
- likely wall construction;
- doors, windows and obvious draught paths;
- glazing, window coverings and shading;
- zoning between heated and unheated areas; and
- practical opportunities to retain heat.
Thermal imaging may be used when conditions are suitable, but it is an investigative aid, not an X-ray of the building. Results need to be interpreted alongside construction details, indoor and outdoor temperatures and other observations.
Heating and cooling
Existing systems are reviewed for their type, location, apparent capacity, condition and how they are being used. This may include reverse-cycle heat pumps, wood heating, resistance heaters, underfloor heating and heat-transfer systems.
The assessment considers whether the main problem is the appliance, heat distribution, control strategy or the building load. Replacing a heater before addressing obvious heat loss may not provide the expected improvement.
Hot water
The hot-water system is considered in the context of household demand, age, energy source and control arrangements. Recommendations may address scheduling, heat loss, replacement timing or the suitability of a heat-pump hot-water system.
Ventilation, moisture and condensation
Condensation is rarely solved by one measure. The inspection considers moisture sources, surface temperatures, room heating, exhaust ventilation, air movement and the building envelope.
Bathroom and kitchen exhaust arrangements are reviewed where visible. Advice may include ducting to outside, suitable controls, deliberate airing, dehumidification or building-fabric improvements. Mould, structural decay or significant water entry may require separate assessment by an appropriately qualified specialist.
Solar, batteries, tariffs and controls
Where present, solar and battery systems are reviewed at an advisory level using system information and available monitoring data. The aim is to understand how generation, storage, household loads and the tariff work together.
This can identify opportunities for load shifting, schedule changes, improved monitoring or further technical investigation before additional equipment is purchased.
Future electrification
An assessment can also consider the likely sequence for replacing gas or resistance equipment, adding electric-vehicle charging or preparing for future solar and battery expansion.
This is particularly useful when several upgrades may compete for budget or electrical capacity.
After the inspection
The findings are brought together in a written Home Energy Performance Report. The report typically includes:
- the home’s current performance and key constraints;
- observations and stated assumptions;
- prioritised recommendations;
- suggested sequencing;
- indicative upgrade costs where appropriate; and
- practical next steps.
Recommendations are staged by likely value and dependency. A low-cost control change or draught repair may come before major equipment replacement. In another home, an ageing hot-water system or incomplete insulation may be the most urgent opportunity. Homeowners comparing obvious sealing jobs with larger upgrades can start with Draught-proofing a Tasmanian home.
A post-report discussion is included so the client can ask questions and clarify the recommended path forward. Further support, such as product comparisons, quote reviews, tariff analysis or project coordination, can be added by arrangement.
What an advisory assessment is, and is not
Tasman Energy Advisory provides independent, engineering-led advice. The service is not tied to the sale of insulation, heating, solar, batteries or other products, and no commissions or referral payments are accepted.
The assessment is advisory and non-invasive. It is not:
- an accredited NatHERS or Home Energy Rating certificate;
- an electrical safety inspection;
- a building, structural or pest inspection;
- a mould-remediation assessment; or
- a substitute for design or certification by a relevant licensed practitioner.
Where a recommendation requires regulated work or specialist investigation, the report identifies the need to involve an appropriately qualified professional.
Who benefits most from an assessment?
An assessment can be particularly valuable when:
- the home remains cold despite substantial heating;
- electricity use has increased unexpectedly;
- condensation or moisture is recurring;
- solar or battery performance is unclear;
- several upgrades are being considered;
- a renovation or electrification plan is beginning; or
- competing quotes make it difficult to identify the right priority.
The greatest value often comes before a major purchase. Understanding the whole home first reduces the risk of solving the wrong problem or completing upgrades in an inefficient order. Clubs, businesses and community facilities are assessed through business and community energy advice. Councils and multi-site portfolios are covered in government electrification strategies.
Frequently asked questions
Why get an independent home energy assessment instead of following installer quotes?
An independent assessment takes a whole-of-home view. It considers how the building, major energy systems, household routines and future plans interact, then turns that information into clear priorities. One installer may recommend a larger heat pump and another solar or insulation; each may have merit, but it usually considers only one part of the home.
What happens before the inspection?
The process begins before the property visit. Clients complete a short questionnaire covering comfort or energy concerns, occupancy, heating habits, hot water, solar, batteries, ventilation and planned renovations. Where available, 12 months of electricity bills and, for homes with smart meters, solar or batteries, interval and monitoring data allow the inspection to focus on the issues most likely to matter.
What happens during the on-site inspection?
The on-site assessment combines a conversation with a practical, non-invasive inspection of accessible areas. It may consider the building fabric, heating and cooling, hot water, ventilation and condensation, solar and batteries, tariffs and future electrification. Thermal imaging may be used when conditions are suitable, but it is an investigative aid, not an X-ray of the building.
What do I receive after the inspection?
The findings are brought together in a written Home Energy Performance Report. The report typically includes the home’s current performance and key constraints, observations and stated assumptions, prioritised recommendations, suggested sequencing, indicative upgrade costs where appropriate, and practical next steps. A post-report discussion is included.
What is an advisory assessment not?
The assessment is advisory and non-invasive. It is not an accredited NatHERS or Home Energy Rating certificate, an electrical safety inspection, a building, structural or pest inspection, a mould-remediation assessment, or a substitute for design or certification by a relevant licensed practitioner. The service is not tied to product sales and no commissions or referral payments are accepted.
Who should get a home energy assessment in Tasmania?
An assessment can be particularly valuable when the home remains cold despite substantial heating, electricity use has increased unexpectedly, condensation is recurring, solar or battery performance is unclear, several upgrades are being considered, a renovation or electrification plan is beginning, or competing quotes make it difficult to identify the right priority. The greatest value often comes before a major purchase.
Home energy assessment pricing
- Under 150 m²: $770 including GST
- 150–250 m²: $935 including GST
- Over 250 m² or complex properties: from $1,100 including GST
Travel fees apply outside Greater Hobart. Additional services can be added on request and quoted separately to suit the property and the client’s goals.
Ready to understand what is happening and what to improve first? Book a home energy assessment or explore the home energy assessment.
