My Home was Audited! (Energy-Wise)

In my on-going attempt to make my home more energy-efficient, I recently had a home energy audit done. It's easier to reduce the amount of energy you use when you know how much energy you're actually using. So, a few weeks ago, I invited a home energy technician, Josh, from our energy co-op, to come out and inspect my house for energy waste.

The first thing he did was inspect my house, inside and out, while making lots of notes on his clipboard. He checked the windows, doors, appliances, the HVAC units, the ductwork, the attic, everything. I got a bit nervous. If my house didn't do well in the audit, I knew I'd take it personally. When he was done, he and I toured the house again together, and he pointed out what kinds of things he was checking for and what I should keep an eye on. He used an infrared camera to check the air flow temperatures that our HVAC units produced, and he asked lots of questions about our energy usage habits. He also had analyzed our utility bills for the past year.

Here's a look at what he checked for so you can do your own home energy audit.

Windows and Doors

• Are they single, double or triple paned? Are there storm windows?
• Is the caulk around the windows in good condition? Cracks or bubbles means it's time to reapply.
• Do you have trees or awnings shading the windows? Do you have solar screens or tinting?
• Do you have curtains or blinds to cover your windows? Do you keep them open or shut? Shutting curtains in the summer keeps the heat out, while opening them in the winter can help warm the home thanks to solar heat.
• Is the weatherstripping around your doors in good condition? If it's damaged, replace it.
• Does the door close snugly, or can you see sunlight peeking through? Do you feel a draft?
• Do you have a storm door?
• Are there other sources of air leaks? Check electrical outlets and switch plates on outer walls for airflow and insulate them if there is. Also check attic hatches for air flow.

HVAC (Heating and Cooling)

• Is your unit(s) in good condition?
• How often do you have your unit(s) serviced? To keep your unit running efficiently for years to come, schedule a routine maintenance appointment twice a year with a qualified HVAC technician.
• Where is your thermostat? For the most accurate reading, your thermostat should be on an interior wall away from direct sunlight.
• At what temperature do you set your thermostat in the summer? What about the winter? Set your thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter. For every degree you move in the right direction, you’ll reduce your monthly usage.
• Do you use a programmable thermostat? Moving the thermostat up or down by 5 degrees when you're gone can save a huge chunk of change.
• Is your A/C fan set to “auto”? Your fan will only come on when the unit is in cooling mode, which saves energy.
• Do you keep all interior doors open? Keeping some doors shut eliminates circulation and air flow from one room to the next.
• Are the vents on your ceiling (the supply registers) open? By opening all supply registers, you keep air circulating throughout your home.
• How often do you replace your air filter?
• Do you keep the flue to your fireplace closed when not in use? Does your fireplace have glass doors on the front?

Lighting and Fans

• What kinds of lights do you use outside – incandescent, halogen, HID (high intensity discharge) or compact fluorescent?
• How do you control when your landscape lights turn on and off? Lights operated by timers or photo cells work best, because you never forget to switch them off.
• Inside, do you use mostly incandescent or compact fluorescent light bulbs? They cost a little extra, but compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent. They also last up to 10 times longer, making them the least expensive choice long-term.
• When do you use ceiling fans? Fans are a brilliant way to save energy – but only when you’re in the room. That’s because fans don’t actually heat or cool the air. They only move it around. Remember to set your fans to spin counterclockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter.

Water

• Is your water heater in good condition?
• What is the temperature setting on your water heater? Adjust the water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. That should be more than adequate to keep your water warm.
• Do you have a water heater blanket or jacket? If your tank is warm to the touch, you need additional insulation.

Appliances and Electronics

• Are your appliances in good condition?
• Do you keep items plugged in even when you're not using them?
• Do you use power strips or smart strips? Do you use light timers?

If you follow through on the recommendations from the home energy audit, you may be able to reduce your energy costs by as much as 20% to 30%, especially if your house is older and hasn’t been retrofitted for energy efficiency.

The Verdict
I'm relieved to say we did well, due in large part that our house is only a few years old and was built to be energy-efficient. Josh found one window that needs some fresh caulk, and he recommended that we have our HVAC serviced since I couldn't remember quite when we'd had it done last. We have childproof plugs on all our outlets, and he said that those would suffice for extra outlet insulation for now, but if we stop using them then we should install some draft stoppers on our exterior wall outlets. He recommended leaving all room doors open for airflow, and turning off ceiling fans when we're not home (we get lazy on that one, oops!) He also recommended adding curtains to the windows I haven't yet dressed, though we do make extensive use of the wood blinds during the day to regulate how much sun is coming in. He also suggested we move our chest freezer from the garage inside, though we both concluded there is no place inside to put it.

Larger (more expensive) upgrades that he mentioned we could consider include solar screens on the windows (ours are tinted), adding a radiant barrier and additional insulation in the attic along with an attic tent to insulate the attic hatch, and insulating the copper pipe lines on our water heater. While all those projects sound good and lofty, Josh assured me that our current energy consumption is already about 25% less than the average home of our size in our area, so we're good to go for the time being.

Whew.