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What to Expect from a Home Energy Survey

Monday, January 18, 2010

Are you considering a home energy survey? Smart. A home energy survey can provide an eye-opening revelation of how you and your home utilize energy. And once you understand how energy is being used in your home, you can employ a variety of changes - sometimes as simple as shutting off the lights - that may help you dramatically reduce your monthly energy bills.

Interested? Per the U.S. Department of Energy, here's a basic overview of what your home energy survey may include:

Appraisal of the exterior and a room-by-room review of the interior. A home energy survey professional will typically begin their audit by inspecting the outside of a home. This helps them get a feel for the overall size of the home and its features, like the number and location of its windows.

Review of past utility bills. A home energy auditor will analyze a home owner's utility bills and use their assessment as a guide for what to look for during the audit.

Analysis of the resident's behavior. Is the home owner an energy waster, or does the home have energy guzzling cracks or leaks? In order to reveal answers to questions like this, a home energy auditor will ask the home owner some basic questions, which could include:

-Is anyone home during the day?

-Is every room in use?

-How many people reside in your home?

-What is the average thermostat setting in the summer and winter months?

Home Energy Audit Equipment. For the most comprehensive energy audit, a professional auditor can utilize a variety of energy loss tools. These tools may include a blower door, surface thermometer, furnace efficiency meter and/or infrared camera.

Do some prep work prior to your home energy survey appointment. For example, create a list of any existing problems in your home (drafty rooms, condensation, etc.). Also, make copies or create a summary of your home's average, yearly energy bills. In most cases, your utility company can provide this information.

For more information about home energy audits, and a variety of other energy saving tips, visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Savers Web site at www.energysavers.gov.

Posted by Danielle Darany @ 12:12 PM • 0 comments