Rising energy costs mean higher electricity bills, and for the average homeowner or business, a little savings each month can add up to extra cash at the end of the year. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your home’s energy consumption, performing a home energy audit is a great place to start.
Table of Contents
What Is an Energy Efficiency Audit?
5 Things to Monitor in a Basic Home Energy Audit
Professional Energy Assessments vs Personal Energy Audits
Uncover How to Decrease Your Energy Usage by Performing an Energy Assessment
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What Is an Energy Efficiency Audit?
The purpose of an energy efficiency audit is to determine how much electricity your home currently consumes and how much energy could be saved by upgrading appliances or taking other steps to reduce electricity consumption.
During an energy audit, all aspects of the home inside and out are thoroughly inspected to identify issues like air leaks, inadequate insulation, or outdated electronics that could be contributing to high electricity bills. While these audits are often performed by an energy expert, it’s relatively easy for individuals to conduct an energy efficiency audit on their own.
5 Things to Monitor in a Basic Home Energy Audit
Performing a home energy audit yourself starts with having a basic understanding of the fundamentals. Aside from identifying how much energy your home is consuming, it’s also important to recognize issues like air leaks or energy losses that could be to blame for consistently high electricity bills.
Here are 5 key areas to cover in your next home energy efficiency audit.
1.) Bad Energy Performance
The best place to start with your home energy audit is to consider upgrading old household appliances and electronics that lack the efficiency of modern alternatives. Common culprits may include an outdated water heater, antique washer and dryer, or a leaky A/C system in need of repair.
To begin reducing your home’s electricity consumption, it’s a good idea to replace antique equipment with efficient appliances that have the ENERGYSTAR® label. If you’re still using incandescent bulbs for your home’s lighting, consider swapping them out with more efficient options like LEDs or compact fluorescent bulbs.
2.) Energy Losses
Next, you’ll want to locate and address any sources of energy loss in the home. Since heating and cooling costs can comprise up to 70% of a home’s energy usage, it’s vital to make sure your interior walls and attic space are adequately insulated.
In the summer months, insulation will provide a barrier that prevents heat from escaping in the winter or entering the home during the summer months. If your current insulation isn’t up to par, you could be spending much more money than necessary to maintain consistent temperatures inside your home’s interior.
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3.) Air Sealing and Ducts
If the windows, doors, and air ducts in your home are not properly sealed, it could be costing you money in terms of wasted energy throughout the year. Energy professionals will use a tool called a blower door to help locate air leaks with the help of infrared cameras.
Once this is done, you can seal up any gaps around windows or doors with weather stripping. Doing this will prevent your heater or AC from working overtime to maintain a consistent indoor temperature all year long.
In addition, you’ll want to ensure the air ducts in your home are in good condition and completely sealed so the AC system can operate at peak efficiency.
4.) Energy Saving Potential & Current Energy Efficiency Improvements
An energy audit should also include a close evaluation of potential energy savings and to what extent your current energy efficiency upgrades can help to lower utility bills. To do this, you can simply compare an old electric bill before taking energy efficiency measures with a more recent utility statement.
Then, you can install upgrades like ENERGY STAR appliances, double-paned windows, or door draft stoppers. From there, you can acquire a more accurate estimate of how much additional energy-efficient products can lower your overall electricity costs.
5.) Current Energy Consumption
Finally, you’ll want to determine the average baseline energy consumption for your home. This information is easy to find on any electric bill, as costs are broken down to total kilowatt-hours used during the month.
With this number in mind, you can more accurately track how much money a particular home upgrade or new appliance is saving you in the long term.
Electricity Costs
Energy companies charge different rates for electricity depending on geographic location, property type, and the number of kilowatt-hours billed. Oftentimes, several electricity providers serving the same area will offer significantly varied rates to their customers.
At Power Wizard, we make it easy to quickly browse through all the electricity plans in your area to find the most affordable rates available. Simply provide us with your zip code and address to get started.
Commercial Rebates
If you’re a business owner, there may be several commercial rebates or incentives available that can help subsidize the cost of energy-efficient upgrades for the property. For instance, qualifying businesses can claim up to 26% of the cost for solar panel installation projects starting in 2022 or up to 22% for solar panel construction projects that begin in 2023.
Local and state governments may offer their own commercial rebates for energy efficient improvements, so be sure to calculate any expected rebates or discounts into your energy consumption forecasts.
Professional Energy Assessments vs Personal Energy Audits
With professional energy audit services, you’ll receive the support and guidance of a reputable professional who has years of experience in the energy industry. He or she will have access to tools and resources that can make performing an energy assessment a fairly easy process. In most cases, an energy expert will complete his audit in just a few hours, providing you with accurate, actionable information that can save you money.
With that said, it’s possible to conduct an energy audit on your own with little to no upfront investment. Start by inspecting the exterior of the home, checking for any cracks, gaps, or unsealed cavities where outside air could seep into the interior.
You can also buy a power meter monitor to gauge how much electricity certain appliances in your home are consuming. For more delicate diagnostics of your home’s energy consumption, it’s often best to leave that job to the professionals.
Uncover How to Decrease Your Energy Usage by Performing an Energy Assessment
When done properly, an energy assessment can reveal exactly how much electricity you’re using and how you can potentially lower your bill by reducing energy usage for heating, AC, water, or appliances.
In some cases, you may discover a long-hidden issue with your home’s energy profile that’s creating an obstacle to consistent electricity savings. If you’re not sure how to do an energy audit or simply don’t have the time, it’s a good idea to invest in a professional assessment conducted by a reliable energy auditor.
Are you eager to save money on your utility bills but don’t know where to start? At Power Wizard, we’ll find the best deals on electricity plans in your area. With our Gold VIP membership, you won’t even have to worry about enrollment or managing the renewal process. Instead, our team will handle all the paperwork so you can focus on more important matters. To learn more about how it works, visit Power Wizard online today.
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