Home Energy Audits 101: The Path To A More Energy Efficient Home
Home energy audits have come a long way in the last few years
. More and more homeowners have researched or conducted energy audits, driven by a desire to make their homes more comfortable, more energy efficient, more environmentally friendly or to save money or perhaps all of the above. Despite this increased awareness, many homeowners still struggle to understand exactly what the process entails, when and why they should conduct an audit and what to look for when you hire a professional.
First, what is a home
energy audit? Yes, the term can sound a bit scary a home checkup might be slightly better. The word audit often brings to mind the IRS and the nightmare of collecting a shoebox full of receipts to defend our tax returns. Home energy audits are far different. The process is not an
interrogation about your home, or your energy usage, rather an appropriately conducted energy audit is a collaborative effort where the service professional seeks to understand your home, your historical and current energy and water usage and also trouble shoots problem areas like cold rooms, moisture, mold
and drafty windows.
In short, an energy audit as a diagnostic of your home to assess your homes overall energy performance effectively how your home produces, uses and loses energy air quality and home health and comfort. Much like the difference between a brief checkup at your doctors office versus a thorough
physical examination, a home energy audit can vary in its thoroughness. This certainly contributes to the variation in the cost of an audit. The following is a discussion of the various key components of an energy audit. These factors are often the key drivers of the cost of service, and the quality and
usefulness of the audit.
Blower Door Test. A blower door test analyzes how well sealed and insulated a home is. It is the most time consuming, labor intensive and, therefore, the most expensive part of an Energy Audit. That said, without it, youre really only making an educated guess. In a blower door test, an industrial size fan is
attached to the front door and sucks air out of the home. In places that lack insulation or where there are holes in the home envelope, air from outside will be sucked into the home. Based upon the amount of air that enters the home from outside, you can accurately measure how well sealed and insulated the
home is.
Infrared Imaging. Combined with the blower door test, infrared imaging is the best way to pinpoint specific gaps in your home envelope and insulation. The infrared camera displays differences in surface temperature. So as air from outside is sucked into the home during the blower door test, the camera
can be used to find problem areas by showing the change in temperature.
Insulation Inspection. During an Energy Audit, the amount, quality and age of the insulation should be inspected with the primary focus being insulation in the attic and basement/crawlspace.
HVAC Inspection. Heating and cooling costs can often be eliminated by fixing simple maintenance issues associated with the furnace or central AC unit. For units that are 15 years or older, it often makes sense to replace the unit completely. The Energy Auditor should recommend any maintenance that is
needed or, when necessary, recommend that the unit be replaced.
Duct Air Flow and Leakage Assessment. Ducts and vents should be inspected to find any leaks or damaged sections. The ability of your HVAC equipment to efficiently and safely heat or cool your home is directly linked to your homes ducts and vents. The two should always be inspected together. During most audits, the efficiency of the appliances, lighting, and showerheads will be examined. Upgrades made within these categories can generate significant
energy savings. Although armed with the right information, most homeowners can make an informed decision on these items without an audit.
There are other inspections that can be offered with an energy audit, such as indoor air quality (IAQ) tests, which can address specific health and safety concerns. Audits that include IAQ tests and the other components listed above are generally on the mid to higher end of the cost spectrum. For an average
home, a thorough energy audit costs around $300$500 (at Energy Results, were currently offering a discounted rate of $199 for a complete Professional Energy Audit. Visit http://www.EnergyResults.com or contact us at 18664714885 to schedule an appointment).
A more thorough energy audit should also include a detailed audit report summarizing the audit findings and providing clear action steps on how to save energy and make your home more
energy efficient appliances.
Finally, who is qualified to conduct an energy audit? In general, our recommendation is to make sure the auditor is BPI and/or RESNET certified.
So get started with a checkup for your home and begin your path to a more efficient, more comfortable and more environmentally friendly home.
by: Energy Result
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