A Colorado firm located in Berthoud is launching new software to support the explosion of state and federal programs aimed at improving home energy efficiency. EnergyLogic, Inc. is a home energy rating, training and software development firm which has has come up with the OptiMiser software, in partnership with OptiMiser, LLC. The program is designed to make home energy audits easier, more accurate and customizable.

The company has some solid experience behind its latest effort. Founded in 2006, EnergyLogic has completed more than 10,000 home energy audits and trained more than 400 energy raters and auditors across the country. Helping to boost the New Energy Economy, the firm hired 40 more employees in 2009 and expects to hire another 60 over the next three years.  It is currently partnering with Veteran’s Green Jobs, a Denver-based nonprofit organization, to provide weatherization services to 1,800 income-qualified households in Denver and Jefferson counties. The $9 million program is funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and administered by the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office. Nationally, the $5 billion program will provide weatherization services for about 15 million eligible households.

“OptiMiser is groundbreaking energy analysis software for conducting the most accurate on-site and customizable energy audits possible today,” said Steve Byers, principal, EnergyLogic. “It is especially appealing to public utilities and government agencies under pressure to control costs and deliver highly accurate results. We expect OptiMiser to capture a significant share of the burgeoning energy efficiency software industry.”

Energy auditors work for government agencies, utilities, nonprofit and private firms. A home audit includes a visual inspection of the home, diagnostic tests and a follow-up report with recommendations that can reduce monthly utility bills by 20 percent or more.

Using the OptiMiser software, an auditor can analyze utility bills against weather data, evaluate   appliance upgrade savings and provide the homeowner with the final report on site, resulting in cost savings and more immediate consumer action. OptiMiser also supports institutional users with large groups of auditors. It works in conjunction with iRate®, an industry specific system for managing and operating all aspects of an energy auditing program. iRate®, also developed by EnergyLogic, won the 2008 RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) Industry Innovation Award.