Do A Home Energy Audit

A home energy audit will pinpoint areas and suggest the most effective measures for cutting your energy costs. You can conduct a simple home energy audit yourself, you can contact your local utility, or you can call an independent energy auditor for a more comprehensive examination. (Many utilities conduct energy audits for free or for a small charge.) The first step to taking a whole house energy efficiency approach is to find out which parts of your house use the most energy.

Check out the two charts. On the left, you will see the categories and percentages of energy loss due to insulation weaknesses in the typical home. On the right is the percentage and type of energy consumed in the typical home.

For do-it-yourselfer's, here are some tips.

• Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces. Unless your home was specially constructed for energy efficiency, you can usually reduce your energy bills by adding more insulation.
• Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home.
• Check for open fireplace dampers.
• Make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained. Check your owner's manuals for the recommended maintenance.
• Study your family's lighting needs and use patterns, paying special attention to high-use areas such as the living room, kitchen, and outside lighting. Look for ways to use lighting controls-like occupancy sensors, dimmers, or timers-to reduce lighting energy use, and replace standard (also called incandescent) light bulbs and fixtures with compact or standard fluorescent lamps.

If you would rather hire someone, there are several places where you can locate professional energy auditing services. Your state or local government energy or weatherization office may help you identify a local company or organization that performs audits. They may also have information on how to do your own audit. Your electric or gas utility may conduct residential energy audits or recommend local auditors. Also check your telephone directory under headings beginning with the word "Energy" for companies that perform residential energy audits. Get several references, and contact them all. Ask if they were satisfied with the work. Call the Better Business Bureau and ask of there are any complaints against the company. Make sure the energy auditor uses a calibrated blower door. Professional energy auditors use blower door tests to help determine a home's air tightness. Make sure they do thermographic inspections or contract another company to do one. Energy auditors may use thermography-or infrared scanning-to detect thermal defects and air leakage.