If you are afraid to open your gas or electric bill each month, reducing your home's energy use should be a priority of yours. Energy efficiency and pleasant indoor environment work hand in hand. In this article you will learn how to evaluate your home's energy performance, determine where the biggest savings lie and maintain a healthy indoor environment. You can find your home more comfortable and reduce your utility bills by following these 7 simple steps:
- Hire an Energy Auditor
When it comes to saving energy, it is worth hiring a pro to evaluate your home and help you sort out the many possible energy-savings strategies. If you are not sure how to find an energy audit company in your area, contact the local utility company to find energy auditors. It may supply this service for free or recommend an auditor.
An energy audit typically costs between $250-450 and can be subsidized through a tax credit or community program. The energy auditor will inspect your home and rate its current performance in terms of insulation levels, air leakage, condition of heating and air conditioning equipment and some other criteria. The auditor can then tell you which upgrades are cost effective and estimate your energy savings. Cost-effectiveness is the absolute key! You can spend thousands of dollars for upgrades that won't save you much and a good auditor will steer you away from those. For an improvement to be worthwhile, the estimate savings should cover the cost of the improvement in about seven years. An example being adding $200 in attic insulation will be worth it if you can save $30 a year ($210 after seven years). Make sure the audit includes estimated savings for any improvements.
- Reduce Air Leakage
Think of the warm air leaking out through gaps, cracks and holes in your home's walls and ceilings as your energy dollars floating away. Sealing these openings is one of the greatest ways to save energy and is actually the most cost effective too. Stopping air leaks in your attic is usually enough. You don't have to work your way through every room caulking every crack inside and out - you just need to cover the largest.
- Conserve Energy
There are hundreds of energy savings steps that cost little to no money. Some ideas involve small investment of time and money like a programmable thermostat or caulking around windows, lowering the temperature on your water heater and closing your curtains.
