Home Energy Audits

While you may be familiar with ways to measure efficiency in various aspects of your life, have you thought about how to measure the efficiency of your home? A home energy audit, also known as a home energy assessment, can help you evaluate and understand your home’s energy use, comfort, safety, and potential savings.

What Is a Home Energy Audit?

An audit will determine how much energy your home consumes, where inefficiencies may exist, and which problem areas and fixes you should prioritize to save energy and improve the comfort of your home. Conducting a home energy audit is fairly simple, allowing you to do much of it yourself — or you can call professionals for a more thorough assessment.

DIY Audit Basics

Start by reviewing your utility bills for the past 12 months to identify patterns and unusually high-consumption months. Walk through your home looking for obvious air leaks around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. Check insulation levels in the attic, walls, and basement. Look at the age and condition of major appliances and your HVAC system.

Professional Energy Audits

A professional energy auditor uses specialized tools including blower door tests (which measure how airtight a home is), thermal imaging cameras (which identify areas of heat loss), and combustion safety tests. A comprehensive professional audit typically costs between $200 and $600 but can identify savings that far exceed that cost.

Common Problem Areas

The most common sources of energy inefficiency in homes include air leaks around windows, doors, and attic hatches; insufficient insulation; old or inefficient heating and cooling equipment; outdated water heaters; and inefficient lighting. Addressing these issues can reduce energy bills by 10% to 30% annually.

Financial Incentives

California and the federal government offer numerous rebates and tax credits for energy efficiency improvements, including upgrades to insulation, windows, HVAC systems, and solar installation. Research available programs before making improvements to maximize your financial benefit.