By Eric Van Orden of
Standard Renewable EnergyRight now, somewhere, somehow, your home is wasting energy. In fact, every year the average American spends $450 on energy wasted through holes and cracks in their home.
But there's an easy way to save energy and money at home. A home energy audit can help you develop a whole-house energy efficiency plan and set you on a path to start reducing your home's energy consumption.
Develop a Road Map for Your Home's Energy UseAn energy audit is the first step towards finding out how to make the right energy-saving improvements in your home. Performed by an energy-efficiency expert, an energy audit will show you all of the ways your home uses energy and how it wastes it. The complete diagnostic evaluation will look at your home's envelope, insulation, mechanical equipment, lighting and appliances. The result is a fully customized plan that is specifically designed to tell you what low-cost solutions are going to make the biggest impact on your pockets – as well as your home's comfort, air quality and environmental impact.
Implement the Solutions to See the Savings
Once you have discovered what steps are necessary to increase your home's energy efficiency, it's time to start implementing those solutions. Here are just a few ways that your home's energy use could be improved:
Properly insulate your homeChances are your home is poorly insulated. In fact, only 20 percent of homes built before 1980 are properly insulated; and most new homes are insulated to the minimum standards to keep costs down. Proper insulation helps keep the heat in your home where you need it the most. In homes with a poorly insulated attic, the heat will naturally flow into those areas. This causes your heating and cooling systems to work longer and harder to keep your living areas at a comfortable temperature.
Seal those gaps and cracksAdditionally, sealing your home's structure means your heating system will not constantly struggle to distribute warm air to keep your home comfortable and efficient. Properly sealing, caulking and weatherstripping all of the holes and cracks in your home can save you as much as 10 percent on your energy bills during the winter.
Heating and cooling can be costlyHeating and cooling systems are the single largest source of home energy consumption, burning as much as 50 to 70 percent of your home's energy bills. So, homeowners need to make sure they are taking the proper steps to make sure their systems are running as efficiently as possible. You should evaluate the age of your heating and cooling equipment, and have it cleaned and serviced regularly. Be sure to replace your filters regularly as indicated by the manufacturer, and have a professional service your furnace or air conditioner prior to peak seasonal use. If your heating or cooling equipment needs to be replaced due to age or condition, check with a professional to determine what system would be best for your home.
Start Saving TodayEven a few simple, low-cost changes can help you take control of your home's energy use. Get an energy audit to learn where your home wastes energy – and make changes that start saving you money today.
