Home Energy Audit

Learn what’s involved in a home energy audit

One of the best ways to measure your energy consumption is to schedule a certified energy audit. Your utility bill tells you how much energy you’re using, but it doesn’t tell you about peak energy use, nor does it give you any clues on how to reduce your power consumption. Also, your utility bill doesn’t tell you where you’re losing money in your home from energy leaks. A home energy auditor helps you learn more about all these things and can help you reduce your energy consumption and save money on your utility bill.

What to Expect from a Home Energy Audit

An energy audit takes stock of the energy consumption in your home. It’s one of the first steps you can take to understand your home's power usage, air flow and the functionality and efficiency of your heating and cooling appliances. Here’s what you can expect from an energy efficiency audit:

• The auditor will conduct a visual inspection. This may include poking into the attic and examining dark corners of your roof and basement carefully. They will use the buildup of moisture as a measuring stick – if there’s condensation on the inside of your house, chances are you’ve got an energy leak.
• They will check your insulation. An insulation check will reveal weaknesses in the barrier and, in some cases, a lack of insulation altogether. Infrared light should be used during the insulation check.
• The auditor will perform an air leakage test. This will ensure that no air is leaking from trouble spots in your home. If air is leaking, the auditor can pinpoint the areas where you need to reseal your home’s walls.
• An inspection of your heating system and stoves will be performed. The auditor will then tell you whether or not you need to perform any duct cleaning or tune-ups.
• If you have any old appliances, the auditor will test them with an electricity meter to see if they are operating efficiently.

Choosing an Energy Auditor

When you choose an auditor, he or she should be certified by a professional organization or the government. The energy audit cost is an important part of the audit – ask for an estimate and explanation of the audit first so that you know what you’re getting into and how much it will cost you. The auditor should also provide a relative cost for any repairs that will need to be made after the audit is finished.

Energy audits can really help you pinpoint trouble spots in your home. You should get one performed as a part of your regular home maintenance.