Do an Energy Audit
By Kristi Vaughan
Looking to save money on your energy bills? Start by doing an energy audit.
There are several ways to perform an energy audit: you can hire a professional auditor or you can do it yourself. Most homeowners and small business owners will find they can do a basic energy audit themselves.
What is an energy audit?
An energy audit analyzes how much energy your home uses, how much the energy costs and how much could be saved through different energy saving techniques.
Your local power company may have forms and tools to help you with this audit. You also can obtain forms and guidelines on the Internet through organizations such as The Alliance to Save Energy. An energy audit prepared by Livermore Labs can help you calculate energy costs and savings.
Basic Audit
The basic energy audit requires few tools other than pen, paper and incense or some other method for detecting air leaks.
The following recommendations come from the Federal Department of Energy, The Alliance to Save Energy, and Do It Yourself.com, a website for home improvements.
Check for drafts
Air leaks not only let heated air escape but they can make you uncomfortable. Common locations of air leaks are gaps around the baseboard, window frames or door frames, electrical outlets, recessed lighting, attic entrances and through wall air conditioners. Carefully examine all areas where two different types of building materials meet.
One way to locate drafts is to take lit incense and put it near a suspected source. If the smoke blows horizontally back at you, you have a problem. Take a look at the area and note the size and location of the offending gap. This will help you decide whether you need weatherstripping or caulk.
Air leaks from air conditioners can be minimized by insulating around the outside of the air conditioner. Hardware and building supply stores sell kits especially for this. If you can’t afford to replace drafty windows, consider taping clean plastic sheeting over them during the cold weather. Cold air flow from windows also can be minimized by using curtains, especially insulating ones.
Insulation
Many years ago when energy prices were relatively inexpensive, homes were built without great regard to insulation levels. If you live in an older home, or your business is located in an older building, the insulation levels may not be sufficient.
Insulation comes in many forms including bats and blanks, rigid board and loose fill. The amount of insulation you need depends on the area you are insulating and the part of the country where you live or do business. Generally, more insulation is needed in the ceiling than in the walls or floor.
To help you determine how much insulation you need the Department of Energy has a prepared an interactive Energy Savers R-value map.
Energy efficient appliances
All appliances are not made equally. Some use less energy than others. This is particularly true of you have appliances that are 10 or more years old. The U.S. Department of Energy says you can save money by replacing these older appliances with newer ones that have a Energy Star® rating.
An Energy Star® rating says that the product uses less energy, saves money and protects the environment. By comparing ratings you can select a model that is the most energy efficient for your needs and budget.
Check your furnace and air conditioners also and consider replacing them if they do not have an Energy Star® rating.
Lights
Lights are another big source of energy consumption. Go around your house and note how many lights you have and what kind of bulb is burning. Fluorescent and lower wattage incandescent bulbs use less electricity. Consider replacing some of your light bulbs with more energy efficient ones. Electric utility companies sometimes have programs through which you can purchase bulbs at a reduced cost. Remember, too, to turn off lights when they are not in use.
Daily habits
As part of your energy audit, note the habits of family members or employees. Do you reduce the heating temperature when no one is in the building for an extended period of time (usually daytime for a home and night for a business)? Programmable thermostats can be installed to raise and lower the heat on a preset schedule.
