How to Conduct a Simple Home Energy Audit

If you’re remodeling your home, conduct an energy audit to determine what improvements can be made to make it more energy efficient. An energy-efficient home can save you money in the form of lower energy bills and can reduce negative impacts on the environment.

An energy audit will assess how much energy your home consumes and evaluate steps you can take to make it more efficient. You can perform the audit yourself or have a professional do it.

A professional energy audit incorporates extensive testing using specialized equipment and an assessment of residents’ behaviours to offer a thorough analysis. If you’re conducting the audit yourself, you’ll want to:

• Locate air leaks. Reducing drafts in a home will make it more comfortable while saving 5% to 30% on energy consumption.
• Inspect insulation. Large amounts of heat can be lost through walls and ceilings if insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum.
• Inspect heating and cooling equipment. This should be done at least annually (check the manufacturer’s recommendations).
• Examine lighting fixtures. Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your energy bill. Using lower wattage bulbs and switching to fluorescent lamps can help reduce your usage.

With the summer months here and winter not all that far away, please consider taking these simple steps now and you’ll be thrilled at the dollars it could leave in your wallet!

Photo credit: http://heliopower.com/solar-for-homeowners/energy-efficiency/