Home energy audits
Although there are many things that can be done to make the house more energy efficient, it is important to know the best solution among the available options.
The first step in making your home energy efficient is conducting a home audit to help you assess your home’s energy needs. This helps you figure out how much energy your home uses and what steps need to be taken to use energy optimally and improve the efficiency of your home. Care must be taken to implement the recommendations because audits alone cannot save energy; You also need to take steps to save energy.
Some may recommend that you perform the home energy audit on your own, as hiring a professional can be an expensive affair, especially for those who already have tight budgets. However, you must realize that an audit performed by you may not be as accurate as one performed by a professional. Therefore, it is recommended that you hire a professional who has substantial experience in conducting home energy audits. Once you’ve made the decision to seek help, contact a professional home energy auditor. The auditor will verify your utility bills, examine your property and energy use, as well as perform certain tests.
The standardized tests used by most professionals, including the fan door test and thermographic scanning. In the fan door test, a professional installs a large fan in the frame of an exterior door in your home and turns it on. As a result, the air is blown from the inside out which creates a lower air pressure inside the house compared to outside. Due to the lower air pressure, outside air enters the house through the holes and vents in the house frame. In thermographic scanning, the professional makes use of a camera or other scanning devices to take pictures of his home in an infrared spectrum. These images make it easier for the auditor to identify areas that have holes or vents from where your home loses heat or lets in cold.
With all the necessary data in hand, the auditor will be able to recommend a detailed plan to improve the energy efficiency of your home. This plan will vary from home to home, as your home’s energy and usage requirements will differ from your neighbor’s home. However, most auditors recommend measures such as improving insulation, upgrading appliances, as well as installing a programmable thermostat and weather stripping, among other steps.
The home energy audit along with implementing the recommended steps not only helps to make your home energy efficient, but it also saves money. On average, 30% energy savings can be achieved on your energy bills prior to the audit if proper steps are taken to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct a home energy audit as soon as possible and save energy and money.
Energy Saving Homes, Loft Insulation, Microgeneration, Energy Saving, Wall Insulation, Energy Efficiency, Energy Audit
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