Home Energy Audits – The First Step to Improved Energy Efficiency

A home energy audit is a strong initial step toward improving the efficiency of a home. An effective audit will:

• Determine the amount of energy being used by one’s home, and
• Identify potential measures to improve energy efficiency.

The audit, of course, is merely a precursor to saving energy. By implementing the audit recommendations and drawing on other resources (e.g. ENERGY STAR), a homeowner will not only improve energy efficiency, but he/she will experience lower utility bills without sacrificing comfort.

How to Improve Energy Efficiency at Home

There are typically three steps involved in improving the efficiency of one’s home, independent of whether one does it him/herself or hires a trained professional:

• Assess: There are on-line tools (e.g. ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick and Home Energy Advisor) available to support individuals performing their own assessments. And, of course, should homeowners benefit from the use a professional auditor to achieve an even more thorough audit.
• Air Seal and Insulate: The proper sealing and insulation of ceilings, windows, doors, and floors is often the most effective means to economically improve energy efficiency yet maintain comfort within the home. With the proper deployment of skills and materials homeowners can save as much as 20 percent on their heating and cooling bills. Sealing air leaks and using qualified windows will stop drafts, and adding insulation will reduce the loss of heat in the winter and gain of heat in the summer.
• Improve the Efficiency of the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System: Typically half of the energy consumed in a home is applied to heating and cooling, there is every reason to increase the efficiency of the HVAC system. There are a number of measures that can be taken to accomplish this:

1. Inspect the air filter monthly and change it when it looks dirty, or at a minimum every three months.
2. Tune up the HVAC equipment on an annual basis.
3. Use a programmable thermostat, particularly if away from home during established periods of time.
4. Seal and insulate the ducts connected to the air furnace, heat pump or air conditioning system, focusing initially on those that pass through the attic, crawlspaces, basements and garage.
5. Verify that the current equipment is less than 10 years old and is achieving the desired results with respect to comfort. By replacing an old HVAC system, a homeowner can save as much as $200 per year.
6. In the event that one opts to replace old heating and cooling equipment, invest the time or money to ensure proper installation. Studies have shown that improper installation can reduce efficiency by as much as 30 percent and significantly shorten equipment life.