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Why You Should Consider Getting a Home Energy Audit

Are areas in your home uncomfortably hot in the summer, or freezing cold in the winter? Do you feel like your home is dusty or has musty smells? Whether you have lived in your house for decades or a week, a home energy audit is the best way to ensure your house is safe, comfortable and efficient. In fact, both Consumers Reports and  recommend starting your home improvement projects with a comprehensive home energy audit. Having a certified professional inspect your home’s energy usage and install effective efficiency improvements will make your home feel comfortable and safe throughout the year. Keep reading to learn how a home energy audit can improve the comfort of your living environment.

What is a home energy audit?

A certified home energy audit evaluates the systems of your home to understand how they are working as a whole for your unique home. Home energy audits typically include:

• Visual inspections of insualtion and ventilation in your attic, basement, and crawl space
• Review of your utility bills and energy consumption
• Health, safety and efficiency checks on your furnace, AC, and hot water heater
• Blower door testing to measure the drafts in your home
• Thermal infrared scans to detect flawed insulation and pinpoint the source of drafts.

The home energy audit will identify the direct source of where energy is escaping, or dirt and dust are entering your home, and will recommend solutions to fix your unique issues allowing you to prioritize your efficiency upgrades. Oftentimes, homeowners make the mistake of assuming they know what needs to be fixed and how it needs to be done. Skipping the home energy audit could have you replacing all of your windows when in reality, upgrading your insulation would have solved the biggest problem. For the best results, ensure your home energy auditor is certified. The two main certifying bodies for home energy audits are the Building Performance Institute (BPI), and the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNet ).

What can I expect during a home energy audit?

A reputable energy assessment or audit will provide you with a report of the findings and list recommended improvement options that would be the most beneficial to your home. Improvement options can range from simple items like caulking windows or sealing ductwork to more elaborate items that require professionals like insulation and heating and cooling upgrades. Your certified home energy auditor should also outline different local utility rebate programs or financing options that your improvements could qualify for.

What are the benefits of energy audits?

A home energy audit will identify the specific issues in your unique home and help you to prioritize your improvements. Implementing the suggestions from a professional home energy audit will benefit your household in multiple ways, including comfort and safety. Although the main point of an energy audit is to assess the energy consumption of a house, improving the efficiency of a house provides more than just a lower utility bill:

• Reduces your carbon footprint by conserving energy usage with efficient upgrades
• Increases the market value of your home with decreasing energy costs
• Improves the comfort of your home by sealing air leakage
• Reveals any unknown problems, like poor ventilation that could lead to mold growth
• Promotes healthy indoor air quality by uncovering any hazardous pollutants

These are just a few of the benefits of conducting a home energy audit. To learn more about how an energy audit can help you  or eliminate the cold winter drafts, contact a certified professional in your area. With a comprehensive energy audit, you can start enjoying your living space to its fullest extent.

This guest blog post was provided by Ecotelligent Homes, a Michigan based home performance contractor. They service the Metro Detroit area with energy audits and energy efficient home improvements.