Feel like your money is just flying out your windows or seeping out your walls? That may be exactly what’s happening if your home’s envelope (a blanket term to describe the components of a building that protect the indoor environment from the elements and facilitate climate control within the space; sometimes referred to as the “thermal envelope” or “building envelope”) is not energy efficient. To find out if your thermal envelope is snug or loose, consider an energy efficiency audit.

A thorough whole-house energy efficiency strategy begins with a professional independent energy efficiency audit, which will yield more extensive findings and recommendations than a typical self-audit. By starting with an energy audit, you will be able to calculate and track the savings and/or return on investment yielded by changes you make to your home. You may even find that small changes will make a significant difference in your energy usage which will translate to savings.

A professional energy auditor will examine your home’s envelope for weaknesses that may be costing you money, using equipment you probably wouldn’t have access to normally. This includes infrared cameras (thermography) to identify air leaks and insufficient insulation in your walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows and skylights (thermal envelope components) and blower doors to help determine your home’s air tightness. Auditors examine your heating and cooling sytems, water heaters and other systems that impact your homes climate. They will also analyze your energy usage by reviewing past utility and fuel bills and look at your energy habits.

An audit report will include an estimate of ongoing energy usage, taking into consideration the local climate, solar orientation, roof overhang, and even your thermostat settings. The report will also include recommendations for ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency and may show how implementing some or all of the changes will affect your bottom line. Some common inexpensive recommendations include unplugging devices when they’re not in use, changing out incandescent light bulbs for CFL or LED bulbs, recaulking around windows and replacing weather-stripping around doors. It’s not uncommon, however, for a homeowner to see significant energy savings from adding spray foam insulation to the attic or replacing the heating or cooling system, even after taking the cost of the project into consideration.

Why wait for your next high utility bill? We can provide you with a list of qualified independent energy efficiency auditors today.