| A home energy audit is the first way to realize how | | | | your doors and windows with new ones. |
| much energy your home consumes and then decide | | | | Inspect the heating and the cooling equipment as it |
| on the measures you will have to take to make your | | | | was recommended by the person who installed them |
| home more energy efficient. An energy audit will | | | | or by the manufacturer or at least once a year. |
| show you problems which, if they are corrected, will | | | | Check the filters and replace them as needed. |
| end up saving a lot of your money afterwards. | | | | Generally, you should change them about once every |
| Home energy audits will also indicate if there are | | | | month or two, especially during periods of high usage. |
| problems with your heating and cooling systems or | | | | Have a professional check and clean your equipment |
| where your house loses energy. You can also learn | | | | once a year. If anything is over 15 years old you |
| some ways to conserve hot water and energy. You | | | | should consider changing it entirely. The new energy |
| can do this audit on your own or you can have a | | | | efficient models will help you save energy and are |
| professional do it for you. | | | | also ecological. You should change them especially if |
| You can conduct a home energy audit by yourself | | | | your system is in poor condition. Check your |
| very easily. Simply start walking around the house | | | | ductwork for dirt streaks, especially near seams. |
| and try spotting the problems. You should also keep | | | | These indicate air leaks, and they should be sealed |
| a check list with areas you have already inspected | | | | with a duct mastic. You should also insulate any ducts |
| and with the problems you have found in each of | | | | or pipes that reach through unheated spaces. An |
| them. Prioritize your search and make it efficient. | | | | insulation R-Value of 6 is the recommended minimum. |
| Start by noting every air leak wherever they are | | | | Last but certainly not least, you should examine the |
| obvious because fixing these drafts can save you up | | | | lighting. The energy from lighting can be about 10% |
| to 30% energy per year. If you fix this problem you | | | | of your electric bill monthly. Examine the wattage size |
| also make your home more comfortable. Try | | | | of the light bulbs in your house. You may have |
| checking for air leaks especially in places like this: | | | | 100-watt (or larger) bulbs where 60 or 75 watts |
| window frames, baseboards, attic hatches, fireplace | | | | would do. You should maybe consider compact |
| dampers, wall air conditioning, doors, electrical outlets | | | | fluorescent lamps for rooms in the house where |
| or switch plates. Look for gaps around your pipes | | | | lights stay on for longer periods of time. You will find |
| and wires and check every isolation to see if it is | | | | all sorts of energy efficient lamps in any store and |
| applied properly. | | | | they are available in many designs. |
| Check the windows and doors for leaks and here is a | | | | So home energy audits can be easily performed by |
| hint: if you are able to see day light around a door or | | | | yourself but if you want it to be perfectly done and |
| window frame that means that they surely leak. You | | | | make them really count you should ask a |
| can try getting rid of these leaks by weather | | | | professional. |
| stripping them but you also may consider changing | | | | |