Are you looking for ways to save money on energy bills? If you're tempted to shop around for Energy Star rated equipment to help curb your energy usage, make sure your home is ready. Before taking the plunge into an energy-efficient life, first find a home energy technician, often referred to as an energy "auditor" to inspect your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you could be saving anywhere from 5 to 30% by making the upgrades suggested by your home energy auditor. Where can you find an energy auditor? Contact your local utility company or a private auditing company for a review of your energy usage. Read on for more information on why and how you should audit your energy usage.
What is a Home Energy Audit?
A home energy audit determines energy-wasting spots in your home. Through a comprehensive analysis of your home, you can then take steps to improve upon faulty areas. A home energy audit differs from more niche audits like HVAC energy audits, where niche audits focus on a system's efficiency not the whole home. Although you can perform a do-it-yourself energy audit, we suggest hiring a trained professional to assess health and safety issues. Without the necessary tools to assess energy usage, homeowners would never realize how much more efficient their home could be.
Tools of the Trade
A home energy auditor uses tools such as an infrared camera, a blower door fan, a manometer, and more to determine energy efficiency. A blower door test, for example, uses a fan to depressurize a home, making it easier to locate leaks. With the windows and doors closed and the fan running, an auditor uses an infrared camera to pinpoint specific areas in your home where air rushes in. Air leaks usually appear around fixtures, outlets, doors, and windows. The average home has air leakage equivalent to having a two-foot square hole. To put things into perspective, that's like leaving a medium-sized window open around the clock. Afterwards, the auditor should provide you with a comprehensive home energy report.
Regular Maintenance
Once you've received the energy report, you can begin upgrading outdated equipment. We suggest getting energy-using equipment checked by a professional regularly. Equipment like HVAC systems require regular maintenance to run efficiently.
Here at Burgeson's we thoroughly inspect your equipment and your ductwork for leaks and faults and install energy-saving equipment so you can enjoy lower energy bills. We determine your system's size and placement for maximum efficiency. Give us a call today.
