Guide to Home Energy Audits

A home energy audit or home energy assessment is the process of allowing an energy inspection professional to assess the energy your home consumes and why it does so. This can allow you to make your home energy efficient and in a cost effective manner by pinpointing the homes energy weak spots. Here's what you can expect when you get a home energy audit:

Hiring an Energy Auditor

Whether you hire your own independent contractor or you are assigned a contractor by your energy provider, they will need to know a few things about the structure and the people who live in it, to help to ascertain the energy needs of the entire unit. You should be able to answer these questions when the energy auditor arrives:

• · How many people live in the home? How often are they at home?
• · What is the square footage of living space?
• · What is the square footage of heated/cooled living space?
• · How many appliances do you use? Are any of them gas?
• · What was your average electric bill one month ago? Six months ago? One year ago?

Doing-it-Yourself

Doing your own home energy audit is easy-so long as you are able to enter crawlspaces, basements and other tight areas with ease. To get started you'll need a large industrial fan, contractor's grade plastic and painters tape.

Before you begin, close off and shut down all of the natural air leaks. This includes:

• · Windows
• · Exterior Doors
• · Pet Doors
• · Bathroom Ventilation
• · Kitchen Exhaust Vents
• · Air Conditioning
• · Heating

Next, open the front door of the home and set the large industrial fan in the opening with the air flow aiming out of the door. You may need to prop up the fan with a few 2x4's to make a sturdy platform over the threshold. Once the fan is secure, tape the plastic around the door opening on the inside of the home. Cut out the area around the fan so that some of it overlaps the fans edge to allow for the tape to fit snugly. Once a tight air seal is ensured, turn on the fan.

To find air leaks you will need to light an incense stick to be able to see the air flow. When the smoke wafts or billows near any air leaks, you'll be able to use the smoke to pinpoint the leak. Once you find air leaks around doors, windows, outside walls and plumbing/electrical penetrations, seal them tight from both the inside and the outside of the home.