When Dale Dennis, founder and chairman of Home Energy Checkup, and his wife Buffie built their dream home, they did it right. Or so they thought.

Despite paying for extra insulation, low-e windows, and high SEER-rated HVAC equipment, the Dennises received an unwelcomed surprise that first winter: They burned through nearly 1,000 gallons of propane in just six weeks.

Like many others concerned about the environment and energy efficiency, Dale called an energy rating company to inspect his home. After a few cursory checks that discovered insufficient insulation in the attic and unsealed light fixtures, the rater left. Weeks later, Dale received a $600 bill in the mail for the rater's services, far more than his estimate. Worst of all, the rating company provided no plan of action for fixing the few problems they managed to find-a service they had promised.

After confronting the insulation contractor over receiving nine fewer inches of insulation than he'd paid for, Dale got his homebuilder to address the problems discovered by the rater. In the end, those fixes accomplished little. The Dennises' home was still burning through costly fossil fuel at an alarming rate.

At this point, Dale realized two important facts: His builder did not design his home as a system, and the energy rater did not provide a complete list of items that would fix his home's problems.

There had to be a better way.

Inspired to help others avoid the grief he had endured, Dale used all of his free time and his vacation days at GE Aviation to learn more about homes. He attended every home performance contracting class he could, receiving his certification as a HERS rater in April 2005.

And so was born Home Energy Checkup LLC.

Dale says:

"We began helping builders and homeowners qualify ENERGY STAR^© new homes. Home Energy Checkup soon became Greater Cincinnati's market leader for ENERGY STAR new home qualifications and was presented with the EPA's ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award."

"As our company evolved, we widened our scope to include home performance contracting services. Listening to our customers' concerns and goals then implementing a turn key solution based on their specific needs has been the source of our rapid growth and continuing success. Our highly trained team members analyze the house as an integrated whole then fix the problems at the source. Hundreds of homes and their owners have benefited from our proven methods."

"In 2007, we started installing solar heating systems. These highly efficient systems heat the water in your home, your pool, and even a home during the winter. Solar heating is the next logical step for homeowners desiring a zero energy home."

"Today, our dream home is highly energy efficient and comfortable. In fact, our home uses less energy than many geothermal homes, even though we did not upgrade to this technology. Why? Because we approached the home as a system and prioritized our improvements accordingly. With four occupants and over 5,800 square feet of conditioned space, our monthly bill is in the $150 range despite dramatic local utility rate increases since 2004."

"We learned the hard way so that you don't have to. Schedule the first step toward an energy-efficient home today with Home Energy Checkup."

Mission:

Home Energy Checkup is dedicated to improving your home's comfort and energy efficiency.

Guiding Principles

1. Operate with unwavering integrity
2. Listen to the customer
3. Set clear goals
4. Keep it simple
5. Deliver results
6. Have fun

Our professional service has benefited homeowners across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Let us know how we can help you.

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