Save Money with Energy Audits

These days, more than ever, it is important to budget properly and cut back on frivolous spending. Fortunately for home owners, there are some really simple steps you can take to cut back on monthly utility bills and, in the process, help the conservation effort. In this green home improvement blog, we will look at energy audits and how they help reduce energy waste in the home.

How Energy Audits Save You Money

As a responsible adult and homeowner, you have probably already taken measures to reduce your monthly energy costs. Perhaps you have gotten rid of your old incandescent light bulbs, switched to washing clothes on cold temperatures and even turned down your water heaters default temperature – all great ways to save money. Maybe you even stopped running ceiling fans when you are not in the room, saving yourself $7 a month or so in electricity costs.

While these steps are great and certainly help, they are only part of the steps you should consider to help reduce energy waste in your home. One thing that we recommend you do is contact a home energy auditor and ask for an energy audit or energy assessment. Every home has trouble spots – for instance, you may have noticed a draft when you walked past a window or doorway. While this may not seem like a big deal, a drafty window or door can cost you up to an addition 25 percent in heating bills.

Some issues in the home are not so easily detectable. Without the proper equipment, even the trained eye can have trouble spotting problematic areas that could be costing you money. Energy audits are great, because the professionals that conduct them – usually called energy auditors – are normally certified and trained in energy loss detection and have a vast array of high-tech gadgetry to detect air leaks and energy hogging appliances. Typical equipment includes infrared cameras and air leak detectors.

An energy audit professional will also inspect your heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, as well as you insulation to determine if your unit is functioning properly and if your home is well insulated.

In addition, the energy auditor will provide you with some tips and suggestions for how to make your home more energy efficient. You may also wish to check with your CPA or accountant to see if your state offers any tax breaks for any steps you take to reduce energy waste, such as purchasing energy efficient appliances or even the energy audit itself. Your local energy provider may also offer rebates for work you have done.

While you can expect to a little bit of money up front for the home energy audit, the price pales in comparison to the money you can save on energy bills. In addition, and perhaps more important, making your home energy efficient adds value to the property – a great investment all around.

If you live in the North Georgia or Gainesville, Ga., area and are looking for advice on energy efficient home design or energy assessment, give Tracy Tesmer a call. We would be glad to help answer any questions you may have.

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