By Erika Weliczko

The goal of an energy audit is to identify ways to improve a home's performance. The average home devotes almost half of all energy usage to heating and cooling. The water heater and refrigerator together account for nearly a quarter. All of the lights and appliances and other usage consumes about one-third of our energy usage. By addressing both small and large energy losses, you can save on your energy bills and increase the comfort of your home.

There are some steps you can take to identify some opportunities for improvement. Do-it-yourself energy audit checklists can provide some guidance on target areas. U.S. Department of Energy offers many resources for DIY audits and remedies. Some improvements you can do yourself, while others may be best to hire a contractor.

• Evaluate the insulation level in your walls, attic, crawl spaces and basement walls. Many of our older homes have little or no insulation. Any renovation projects should include insulation upgrades.
• Find and reduce air leaks. Air movement through insulation reduces its effectiveness. About one-third of air infiltration happens through ceilings, walls, and floors - not windows. Find these holes and seal them.
• Perform regular checkups on your major appliances. Keeping your refrigerator coils clean and changing your furnace filter help these appliances perform at their best. Use a programmable thermostat. Drain sediment from your water heater.
• Reduce your lighting and appliance demands. Motion sensors can be used both indoors and out. Use power strips to turn off unused gadgets.

Professional energy auditing services can help quantify the opportunities for improvements in your home and focus your efforts. Professionals use blower doors, infrared cameras, surface thermometers, and moisture meters to provide the necessary data. A blower door test measures the home's airtightness and can identify the leakiest areas of the home. Infrared cameras record heat differences in building surfaces. Large temperature variations indicate heat loss or moisture problems. A report suggests modifications.

If you are considering buying a new home or financing an energy improvement, a home energy rating will help you leverage energy savings as a financing tool. A home receives a score that identifies its energy efficiency. The score is a quantitative summary of the systems of the home and how they interact. Unlike an energy audit or weatherization assessment, the mortgage industry recognizes the home energy rating as a way to compare the energy characteristics of different homes. Certified energy raters will generate more detailed reports and recommendations.

Resources:

For more about DIY measures: http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/

To find a professional rater in your area: http://www.natresnet.org/

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