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Energy Audits and Estimates & Energy Efficiency Tests

The current fuel market is volatile, and oil and natural gas prices may spike at any time. To combat rising home heating costs, many homeowners are investing in energy audits. An audit entails detailed tests and evaluations performed by experts to determine how much energy your home loses due to inefficient appliances, insulation, or construction, as well as age deterioration. Many energy companies employ their own auditors or can recommend professional, experienced auditors. When choosing a company to audit your home, request references and check them yourself; ask past customers if they were satisfied with the service and if they feel that the audit has subsequently procured financial benefits. Also call the Better Business Bureau to inquire if any complaints have been filed against the company.

Once you settle on an energy auditor, get a price estimate and ask what the audit includes. A thorough, high-quality audit utilizes two major devices: a calibrated blower door and infrared scanners or cameras. A blower door is a high-powered fan that attaches to a doorframe and sucks air out of your house so that the amount of air leaking into and out of the house can be measured. Infrared cameras read temperature variations within your house and help locate the causes. They can also see where insulation is missing or weak. Make sure that the auditors you hire are familiar with these devices and procedures.
A complete audit takes several hours, and the auditors will test different areas of your house, especially windows, doors, and attic insulation. When they have finished, they will explain where you are losing energy in your home and suggest what steps to take in order to increase your efficiency. They will also supply a price estimate for the advised changes. Often their recommendations call for renovations or replacements that may seem expensive, but you will most likely recoup your money in a few years by saving on energy bills. Not only will an energy audit decrease your expenses, it will help to improve your comfort and health. All homes require a certain balance between sealing and ventilation that ensures optimal energy efficiency and also decreases indoor pollution and damage to your home due to moisture condensation.

The average residential audit costs about $200-$400, and some state governments offer rebates. There are also some state incentive programs for applying an audit’s findings and making the improvements. Some measures, such as replacing or adding attic insulation, are relatively inexpensive when considering how quickly the expense will be recovered. It’s a good idea to perform an audit if you have an old home; modern building codes take energy efficiency into account, whereas older homes may not have been built to these standards. Check out www.energystar.gov for useful tips and a free calculation of your personal energy consumption. There are some simple steps you can take to reduce energy use, but remember that a full audit should be completed by a professional, and that you should not attempt any major renovations yourself. If you seal your home improperly, carbon monoxide, a gas poisonous in large concentrations, can get trapped and cause sickness and even death. A proper audit will give you an accurate idea of how you can save money and conserve energy in your home.