Conducting a home energy evaluation or audit can be a smart move for any homeowner. Similar to audits performed in companies, on finances, and more, an energy audit will basically assess the energy use at a house and outline all of the specifics. A home energy audit is a procedure that helps homeowners to identify where their house is using maximum electricity. Based on the insights from the audit, homeowners can take steps to improve energy efficiency. Paul Favret mentions that all homeowners should consider going for an energy audit at least once every two to three years.
Paul Favret underlines the importance of a home energy audit
Energy auditors typically assess where a home is losing more energy. They subsequently propose improvements that can assist in saving energy at home and cutting down electricity bills. Once a home energy auditor identifies where a house requires energy improvements, homeowners can take subsequent steps to resolve the problem. An energy audit can reveal if the homeowner has to clean their air ducts, change settings on appliances, upgraded kitchen appliances to energy-rated models, and so on. Major upgrades can involve replacing worn window weather stripping, and even changing the insulation in the walls. If possible, homeowners can also choose to install a solar energy system. Based on the advice of the energy auditor, homeowners would have a good understanding of where to begin in regard to making energy upgrades and improvements.
A huge advantage of performing a home energy audit is that it can help homeowners significantly save money on their utility bills, based on the type of upgrades they ultimately carry out. By making upgrades identified in their home energy audit, one can actually save 5% to 30 % on their electricity bills. Paul Favret points out that once a person is able to reduce the overall energy consumption at their home, they will automatically cut down their carbon footprint. This will ultimately help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and be beneficial for the environment. There are many ways homeowners can reduce their impact on the environment by following the upgrades and improvements mentioned in the energy audit. Fixing air leakage, changing old appliances with energy-efficient ones, using maximum daylight, and ensuring proper insulation at home are some of these ways.
For all homeowners, the safety of their families is a key priority. During an energy audit process, a home is also inspected for safety and health. Most professional energy audit teams make use of advanced tools and techniques to check if there are any electrical or other hazards at home. They make sure that the wiring is done properly so that it does not lead to electrical fires and perform combustion appliance zone testing on combustion fuel-powered appliances. These teams may even test for fuel leaks in the furnace. Homeowners can also identify concerns like lack of proper insulation or unwanted sources of moisture at home due to the audit. Taking steps to ideal home humidity can particularly be beneficial for family members with allergies or asthma.
