A home energy audit can help you identify problems and find ways to reduce your expenditures. Homeowners should understand what the process entails. A typical residential energy audit follows these 5 steps.
System Assessments
One of the first questions is going to address how well or not the various HVAC systems in your house are performing. An auditor will determine what types of systems are present, how old each is, and how they might affect your energy costs. If a particular system is especially old or inefficient, the auditor will also assess whether replacing it with a newer and better solution is the right choice.
Depending on how suited a system is to your home's location, they may even recommend adopting something different. If you live somewhere with high electricity rates, for example, the auditor may recommend ditching an electric heater and adopting a heat pump.
Utility Choices
A residential energy audit should also cover the utility systems in use. You should have copies of your bills ready so an auditor can assess what your consumption is and how much each energy unit costs. They may recommend that you adopt a more cost-effective solution, especially if you live in a place that lets you take advantage of low-cost solutions. Someone who lives in a sunny region, for example, may benefit from deploying solar panels.
Insulation
Passive technologies often yield the best dollar-for-dollar savings in a home energy audit. Consequently, the state of the insulation in a house matters. The auditor will check what insulation is present and how well it covers problematic areas. For example, they'll check the upper-story ceiling to see if it has sufficient insulation to prevent energy losses through the attic and roof. An auditor may also recommend removing the existing insulation and replacing it with a product that offers better insulating value.
Doors and Windows
The doors and windows of a house also can create significant energy losses. An auditor will check the state of the doors and windows to ensure that they're sealing properly when shut. Likewise, they'll verify that the doors and windows operate well enough to provide insulation value. Many audits also include infrared scans to see where air may be leaking in or out of the house.
Appliances
Lastly, the home energy audit will address the appliances. Refrigerators, stoves, and other appliances can lead to significant waste. Moving to newer and more energy-efficient models is often ideal.
Share20 January 2023
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