How a Home Energy Audit Can Help You
March 8, 2016
Energy efficiency is a topic that is ever increasing in popularity, especially over the past few years. If you’re looking for ways to become more energy efficient, the best place to start is in your home! Having an energy efficient home is something that is not only good for the environment but will also save you money and improve your quality of life. If improving your home’s energy efficiency is something that you’re considering, the first step is conducting a home energy audit.
You’ve likely heard of a home energy audit, but if you’re not entirely sure what it entails, we’re here to help!
A home energy audit is a comprehensive examination of your home. Everything from air sealing to insulation, appliances, and windows, with the goal of helping you understand and minimize the amount of energy you use. Believe it or not, your home actually operates as a system. One of the biggest sources of discomfort and energy waste is the amount of outdoor air that enters your home through the building’s framing and cracks around light fixtures, receptacles, windows, doors, and attic hatches. The outdoor air entering your home is called “infiltration”. Using two very specialized tools (a blower door and an infrared thermal imaging camera) we make the invisible, visible; and we pinpoint where and how much “infiltration” your home is suffering from. We also inspect the installation of your home insulation, heating and cooling system and ductwork to determine where the largest amounts of energy are lost or wasted in your home.
Here is the best part: A full home energy audit does more than just examine your home for energy deficiencies – it helps you to resolve them! After the evaluation is complete, you will be provided with a list of solutions to improve your home’s energy efficiency, prioritized by importance and cost-effectiveness. As every home uses energy differently, this is the perfect way to identify where you and your family can begin to implement small changes and see big improvements in utility costs and the health of your home.
We are here to answer any and all questions you may have about home energy audits! We aren’t your typical contractors installing equipment – we understand that each home is different and we are committed to helping you and your family experience a healthier, more comfortable and efficient home.