There are dozens of ways to save on household energy, but it’s not always obvious what they are. That’s because every home is a little different, and some energy efficiency problems can’t be seen with the naked eye. The solution to this problem is a service called a home energy audit, or home energy assessment.
A home energy audit is a process in which trained energy auditors, or energy assessors, use specialized equipment to examine a home in search of energy efficiency issues like air leaks, HVAC problems and insufficient insulation. A professional home energy audit usually includes an examination of recent utility bills and an interview with the homeowner to help determine potential problem areas.
Some companies that provide energy auditing services also provide maintenance and repair services. But in many cases, the end product of a home energy audit is a detailed report with instructions for taking future steps to improve the energy efficiency of the home. The homeowner can then hire professionals to perform some of the more complicated work, and potentially do some of the easier jobs on their own.
If you’re not ready to schedule a professional home energy audit but would still like to try to improve your household energy efficiency, there are several ways to do this. It won’t be as detailed or thorough as a professional energy audit, but you can use DIY energy auditing techniques to identify some of the easier-to-detect opportunities to save energy.
It’s easy to search for home energy auditing services online, but not all services are equal. At a minimum, you should try to find some recent customer reviews of a company and confirm that they use calibrated blower door tests and thermographic technology before scheduling services. If you are seeking recommendations, you can try checking with your local government or utility company to see if they have preferred contractors. You can also search for certified energy auditing services online through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score program or its Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.
Once you choose an energy auditing company, be sure to listen to any instructions given to you before your appointment. You may be asked to collect several months’ worth of recent utility bills, fill out questionnaires or make specific preparations around your home.
A home energy assessment typically consists of a thorough home inspection, followed by a computer analysis of collected data, resulting in a detailed recommendations report. During the home inspection, energy assessors will perform a visual inspection of every interior room and the home’s exterior. They will likely take photos, collect measurements and inspect your HVAC system, electrical system and major appliances.
The audit should include a blower door test, which involves installing a large panel in an exterior doorway. This panel contains a powerful fan that is used to depressurize the home, which makes air leaks more detectable by causing outdoor air to stream indoors. Many energy assessors use thermographic imaging equipment during the blower door test to “see” where the air leaks are, because the heat signatures of outdoor air are visible with an infrared camera.
When the entire process is complete, your energy assessor should present you with a report that reads like an action plan. It may include recommendations like:
Some companies may refer you to service professionals or offer to perform some or all of the work themselves. You can also take the information from the report and hire professionals on your own. Your energy assessor may recommend a follow-up energy assessment to measure the effectiveness of your improvements, or this follow-up assessment may be built into a larger energy assessment package.
A professional home energy audit can pay for itself over time, but there is an up-front cost. Comprehensive energy audits that include blower door tests and thermographic inspections generally range between $300 and $600, according to Forbes. But if you’re not ready to spend that kind of money, there are several ways to inspect your own home and make some DIY improvements:
A thorough home energy audit may require an investment of time or money, but it can pay off in the long run. If you want to improve the energy efficiency of your home but just don’t know where to start, a home energy assessment is right for you. Looking for ways to lower your monthly energy bills? Check out our favorite energy-saving tips.
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We share maintenance tips for your heater and AC, and home improvement tips to help you use those systems less.
Read ArticleIf you’re looking to learn more about energy efficiency for home systems and appliances, we’re sharing our favorite energy-saving tips.
Read ArticleWe break down what uses the most energy in your home to give you an understanding of where your energy usage goes and where energy-saving tactics can make the most impact.
Read ArticleNRG offers electricity and natural gas plans with perks like cash back, travel rewards and more, so you can find a plan that fits your home and family.
There are dozens of ways to save on household energy, but it’s not always obvious what they are. That’s because every home is a little different, and some energy efficiency problems can’t be seen with the naked eye. The solution to this problem is a service called a home energy audit, or home energy assessment.
A home energy audit is a process in which trained energy auditors, or energy assessors, use specialized equipment to examine a home in search of energy efficiency issues like air leaks, HVAC problems and insufficient insulation. A professional home energy audit usually includes an examination of recent utility bills and an interview with the homeowner to help determine potential problem areas.
Some companies that provide energy auditing services also provide maintenance and repair services. But in many cases, the end product of a home energy audit is a detailed report with instructions for taking future steps to improve the energy efficiency of the home. The homeowner can then hire professionals to perform some of the more complicated work, and potentially do some of the easier jobs on their own.
If you’re not ready to schedule a professional home energy audit but would still like to try to improve your household energy efficiency, there are several ways to do this. It won’t be as detailed or thorough as a professional energy audit, but you can use DIY energy auditing techniques to identify some of the easier-to-detect opportunities to save energy.
It’s easy to search for home energy auditing services online, but not all services are equal. At a minimum, you should try to find some recent customer reviews of a company and confirm that they use calibrated blower door tests and thermographic technology before scheduling services. If you are seeking recommendations, you can try checking with your local government or utility company to see if they have preferred contractors. You can also search for certified energy auditing services online through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score program or its Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.
Once you choose an energy auditing company, be sure to listen to any instructions given to you before your appointment. You may be asked to collect several months’ worth of recent utility bills, fill out questionnaires or make specific preparations around your home.
A home energy assessment typically consists of a thorough home inspection, followed by a computer analysis of collected data, resulting in a detailed recommendations report. During the home inspection, energy assessors will perform a visual inspection of every interior room and the home’s exterior. They will likely take photos, collect measurements and inspect your HVAC system, electrical system and major appliances.
The audit should include a blower door test, which involves installing a large panel in an exterior doorway. This panel contains a powerful fan that is used to depressurize the home, which makes air leaks more detectable by causing outdoor air to stream indoors. Many energy assessors use thermographic imaging equipment during the blower door test to “see” where the air leaks are, because the heat signatures of outdoor air are visible with an infrared camera.
When the entire process is complete, your energy assessor should present you with a report that reads like an action plan. It may include recommendations like:
Some companies may refer you to service professionals or offer to perform some or all of the work themselves. You can also take the information from the report and hire professionals on your own. Your energy assessor may recommend a follow-up energy assessment to measure the effectiveness of your improvements, or this follow-up assessment may be built into a larger energy assessment package.
A professional home energy audit can pay for itself over time, but there is an up-front cost. Comprehensive energy audits that include blower door tests and thermographic inspections generally range between $300 and $600, according to Forbes. But if you’re not ready to spend that kind of money, there are several ways to inspect your own home and make some DIY improvements:
A thorough home energy audit may require an investment of time or money, but it can pay off in the long run. If you want to improve the energy efficiency of your home but just don’t know where to start, a home energy assessment is right for you. Looking for ways to lower your monthly energy bills? Check out our favorite energy-saving tips.
Select a category to find resources for topics that interest you.
Select Category
We share maintenance tips for your heater and AC, and home improvement tips to help you use those systems less.
Read ArticleIf you’re looking to learn more about energy efficiency for home systems and appliances, we’re sharing our favorite energy-saving tips.
Read ArticleWe break down what uses the most energy in your home to give you an understanding of where your energy usage goes and where energy-saving tactics can make the most impact.
Read ArticleNRG offers electricity and natural gas plans with perks like cash back, travel rewards and more, so you can find a plan that fits your home and family.