Statistics show that somewhere between 10% and 30% of the energy consumption of a typical American household ends up as waste due to poor insulation, air-leakage and other inefficient uses of energy. The goal of a home energy audit/assessment is to identify these issues and plan how to resolve them.
A professional home energy audit (or assessment) usually consists of two things:
- Thorough inspection of the building
- Evaluation of electricity bills
By the end of this assessment the auditor should be able to present you a plan of measures to increase energy efficiency in your house – saving you money in the long run.
How to Prepare for an Energy Audit/Assessment
Contact your utility company for a record of energy bills. You should have these ready for the auditor so he/she can get an idea of the situation right away. This information will help them to know what to prioritize and look for when conducting the audit
The next you need to is to list all of problems whether it is cold and drafty areas, mold or anything else you can think of is helpful for the auditor or needs improvement for your own sake.
You should be home when the audit takes place. Make sure to follow the auditor around and make sure you get an idea of what’s going on, what needs improvements, costs and so on. This is your opportunity to get thorough answers for your questions.