Do-it-Yourself Energy Audit
There are professional energy auditors available and some utility companies offer this service for free. You can conduct your own energy audit and pinpoint energy deficient areas in your home with by following these simple steps.
First, start with a thorough inspection of your home. Note obvious air leaks around doors and windows like mounted air conditioners. Other likely sources are fireplace dampers, attic hatches, switch plates and electrical outlets. Gaps along baseboard trim and at the edges of flooring, walls and ceilings can also leak energy from a building. Even just concentrating on insulating these leaks could yield an energy savings between 5 and 30% according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
To get a full sense of where leaks and drafts occur in your home, conduct a depressurization test. This sounds technical but is actually quite simple. Here’s how you do it.
Close all exterior doors, windows and fireplace flues. Turn off all combustion appliances like furnaces and water heaters. Then turn on all exhaust fans throughout the house in the kitchen and bathrooms. If you don’t have any exhaust fans, choose one window and place a fan in the sash so the air moves out.
This increases infiltration, air that is leaking through the building envelope unintentionally. Next, light incense sticks and use them to help visualize air currents. You can also use your hand to detect draft by running it under water an feeling the air. Drafts will feel cooler than other areas. Note all areas were you detect a draft either by making a list or noting them on a plan of your home.
The next step in your do-it-yourself energy audit is to bundle up and check your home’s exterior. Pay attention to where different materials meet such as siding and brick and where the foundation meets the house. Seal any cracks or holes in the foundation or siding and use an exterior grade caulk to seal any holes around doors and windows.
Once you’ve thoroughly inspected your home’s exterior, continue your energy audit in the attic. This allows you to check the insulation that lives within walls and ceilings. The same inspection should be carried out in any cellars or crawl spaces. Note what kind of insulation you have, where it is located, its R value and thickness. R value is a term used to relate a materials resistance to heat flow. The higher the R value, the less heat flow and the greater the efficiency of the insulation. Most fiberglass insulation that is installed in sheets has the R value printed on the paper that holds it in place.
When you’ve completed the above steps of your do-it-yourself energy audit it’s time to look at mechanical systems and appliances. First check the vents of your heating and/or cooling system for dust or obstructions. Make sure the ductwork is intact, sealed and insulated.
Check the age of both your furnace and water heater and also check both for any rust or corrosion. Updating these two items can greatly reduce energy costs by boosting the efficiency of your home’s mechanical systems. Consider replacing either element if they require frequent maintenance or are over 15 years old. If your water heater has any weak seams or signs of expansion call an HVAC specialist right away.
Next on your do-it-yourself energy audit checklist is lighting. Observe your family’s usage patterns and note areas where dimmers or timers can be installed. These elements can help save energy without impacting your lifestyle.
Consider switching from conventional light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). These use at least 2/3 less energy than incandescent bulbs, provide the same amount of light and last up to 10 longer. They also generate 70 percent less heat, are safer and can decrease cooling loads and costs. The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that if every American home replaced one incandescent light bulb with a CFL it would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year.
Once you’ve completed your do-it-yourself energy audit forge a plan to implement energy saving strategies. Prioritize upgrades according to cost and benefits (ie savings) and then structure a time frame. Some simple steps can be done almost immediately and others aren’t as difficult or expensive as you might think. Overall, each improvement you make, no matter how small, will help you save money and run an energy efficient home.
