A home energy audit is the first way to realize how much energy your home consumes and then decide on the measures you will have to take to make your home more energy efficient. An energy audit will show you problems which, if they are corrected, will end up saving a lot of your money afterwards.

Home energy audits will also indicate if there are problems with your heating and cooling systems or where your house loses energy. You can also learn some ways to conserve hot water and energy. You can do this audit on your own or you can have a professional do it for you.

You can conduct a home energy audit by yourself very easily. Simply start walking around the house and try spotting the problems. You should also keep a check list with areas you have already inspected and with the problems you have found in each of them. Prioritize your search and make it efficient.

Start by noting every air leak wherever they are obvious because fixing these drafts can save you up to 30% energy per year. If you fix this problem you also make your home more comfortable. Try checking for air leaks especially in places like this: window frames, baseboards, attic hatches, fireplace dampers, wall air conditioning, doors, electrical outlets or switch plates. Look for gaps around your pipes and wires and check every isolation to see if it is applied properly.

Check the windows and doors for leaks and here is a hint: if you are able to see day light around a door or window frame that means that they surely leak. You can try getting rid of these leaks by weather stripping them but you also may consider changing your doors and windows with new ones.

Inspect the heating and the cooling equipment as it was recommended by the person who installed them or by the manufacturer or at least once a year. Check the filters and replace them as needed. Generally, you should change them about once every month or two, especially during periods of high usage. Have a professional check and clean your equipment once a year. If anything is over 15 years old you should consider changing it entirely. The new energy efficient models will help you save energy and are also ecological. You should change them especially if your system is in poor condition. Check your ductwork for dirt streaks, especially near seams. These indicate air leaks, and they should be sealed with a duct mastic. You should also insulate any ducts or pipes that reach through unheated spaces. An insulation R-Value of 6 is the recommended minimum.

Last but certainly not least, you should examine the lighting. The energy from lighting can be about 10% of your electric bill monthly. Examine the wattage size of the light bulbs in your house. You may have 100-watt (or larger) bulbs where 60 or 75 watts would do. You should maybe consider compact fluorescent lamps for rooms in the house where lights stay on for longer periods of time. You will find all sorts of energy efficient lamps in any store and they are available in many designs.

So home energy audits can be easily performed by yourself but if you want it to be perfectly done and make them really count you should ask a professional.

By: Ingrid Sure

VN:F [1.7.2_963]

VN:F [1.7.2_963]

« How does a Magnetic Generator work? (Magniwork)? Where can I get a bicycle-powered electric generator? »