What exactly is an Energy Audit? An energy audit, also known as a green audit, is a study, identifying where energy usage can be cut and conservation can be continued. Its insight into conservation and energy efficiency can result in significant savings to the total utility bill. An energy audit can be performed by any professional energy auditor.
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1. Why Its Important To Have A Energy Audit
Why is energy audit important? A well-functioning building usually contains many different components that contribute to its comfort and efficiency. These components, when combined, create a comfortable environment. One way to measure energy efficiency and air loss is to look for the telltale signs of air leaks.
An energy audit will identify the areas of greatest risk of decreasing or maintaining current levels of energy consumption. It may also identify areas in which changes may need to be made to increase efficiency and decrease waste or reduce levels of carbon pollution. For example, an energy audit may find that certain doors or windows are not providing proper insulation or ventilation or may be too tightly sealed. It may also identify other issues, such as excess lighting which may not be necessary, inefficient heat loss ventilating equipment, poor lighting design, excessive electrical wiring, windows that are leaking or missing, etc.
2. DIY Energy Audit Tips
An energy audit is just an examination of how well your house uses energy efficiently. This would include your central air conditioner, lights, appliances, computer, washing machine, water heater, windows, and many more. In a complete professional inspection, the entire house’s energy usage would be thoroughly examined using state-of-the-art technology such as a thermal camera and an infrared door blower. When it comes to doing your own do it yourself home energy audit, there are several things that you need to consider. These are as follows:
An energy audit gives you input on your home energy efficiency and ways to reduce consumption and lower your West Penn Power utility bills. Do you find any holes in your house’s doors and windows? You should always check for holes and air leaks in your house walls, ceilings, doors, and windows. One of the most common problems with home energy auditors is air leaks and gaps. With these issues, you can estimate how much energy your house is using based on where these air leaks or holes are. You can then get it fixed or replace it if needed.
How is the R-value of your house? The R-value of a house is a standard measurement used in the US Department of Energy’s home evaluation process. The R-value is the square footage per pound of house which indicates the amount of energy it consumes. Thus, if your house has high walls with low R-value, it could mean that you are using a lot of energy, while if your house has low walls but has a high R-value, it could be because of air leaks and gaps. If your house has both low and high R-value, then it is said to be balanced and may not need any refinishing or repairing. Hence, do it yourself energy audit, if you want to save your house from unnecessary expenses and money lost.
3. Tips On Saving Energy In Your Home
Some homeowners might say that the only way to save energy at home is by using as many gadgets and appliances as possible to make a home more efficient. However, these individuals overlook several simple tips that can help a homeowner save energy while maximizing his or her comfort. Here are some tips to improve the comfort level of your home without spending too much money:
Change your lighting fixtures to LEDs instead of regular bulbs. If you’re using incandescent bulbs, you’re wasting energy because they use more energy than compact fluorescent lamps. Furthermore, if you’re using a dryer with a low heat setting, turn it down to a medium heat instead of a high heat.
Anh improperly sized oven is also wasting energy because it needs electricity to raise the temperature. are both great ways to reduce the amount of electricity you spend on your electricity bill. new windows and doors, or even better – ductless cooling and heating systems can go a long way toward helping you reduce your electricity consumption while maximizing energy efficiency. Install a ceiling fan. Energy efficient ceiling fans can save you money on your heating bills, as well as help reduce the amount of energy that you use to heat your home. Some models of ceiling fans can work harder to cool, and some models can work harder to heat your home. Either way, the more air movement that your ceiling fan creates, the more energy you will save.