Doing an Energy Audit on Your Solar Home

Doing an Energy Audit on Your Solar Home

Doing an Energy Audit on Your Solar Home

Many homeowners are considering a solar power kit or solar panel system for their home. Solar power is a wonderful way to "go green" and produce clean, renewable energy. But before you do this you have to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. Many public utilities will require that you complete an energy audit before they will give you a rebate for installing solar panels. The California Solar Initiative requires everyone that is seeking a rebate to complete an audit before they even get solar installation estimates. Many utilities and states are now giving incentives for improving energy efficiency since the easiest way to save energy is to quit wasting it. This article will help you start an audit and evaluate your home to make sure you are saving as much energy as possible. Lets get started.

The Power Bill To audit your energy consumption, first you should know what your consumption is. Take a look at your bill, it will tell you how many kilowatt-hours (kw-hrs) you use in a month. The average American home uses about 940 kw-hrs per month. How far are you above or below this? Make it a goal to reduce your power bill by 10-20% over the next six months. And when you achieve that goal, try to reduce your consumption by another 10-20%.

Lighting One of the easiest way to be energy efficient is to use Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL's). These bulbs use from 50-80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Plus CFL's last longer than traditional bulbs. Additionally solar garden, shed and security lights can eliminate the need to pay the power company to light your yard and out-buildings.

Refrigerators & Appliances Walk around your house and just see what is running. Your refrigerator probably is running right now. Did you know your refrigerator runs more efficiently when its full? What a great excuse to buy more food! But really, if you can't keep it full of food, fill water jugs and keep them in the refrigerator. The less air that is inside the fridge, and therefore escapes when you open the door, the less it will have to run. And for your other appliances, check out the operating manual or the settings. Nearly every new appliance has some sort of energy-saving mode, are you using it? What about that empty freezer in the basement, does it need to be powered up all the time?

Heating & Air Conditioning At what temperature is your thermostat set? Did you know adjusting it up in the summer or down in the winter just 4 degrees can reduce your electrical consumption by 20% or more? Wasn't Dad right when he used to talk about wearing a sweater around the house? You can also close the doors and vents to seldom-used rooms to prevent heating spaces that nobody occupies.

Windows and Doors For the price of a happy meal you can weather strip an exterior door. With a caulk gun and a little paint you can prevent what Dad would have called "bought air" from leaving the house through cracks and crevices. Often just simply pulling tight and locking windows and doors will improve their efficiency. And if you want to get really efficient you can rent an infrared camera and see exactly where heat is escaping your home.

Passive Solar Nothing is more powerful for heating your home cheaply than the sun. Passive solar is simply using your windows and the sun to heat your home. Just opening the shades to your home and letting the sun in, even during cold days, can drastically raise the temperature inside. And lowering them and closing them tight can prevent heat from escaping through the glass. True energy conservationists find themselves opening, closing, and adjusting window coverings throughout the day to adjust or maintain the indoor air temperature.

Insulation Have you looked in your attic lately? Odds are you would be surprised at the condition of your insulation. You may be surprised to find there is none. Insulation is assigned an "R value", the higher the value the better. Aim to have R-50 or better in your ceilings, where heat rises and escapes most often. Throw an extra layer of insulation in your attic and you'll see the benefits on your power bill.

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