Most people bristle with fear when they hear the word ‘audit’. Trust me. This is about to change. You may feel better calling this an energy ‘assessment’, but whatever you call this, it is essentially a method to quantify the amount and kinds of energy you use and then analyze your home to find ways where you can save. An energy audit takes the guess work out of the equation. It gives you a plan of action and can answer questions like why some rooms are colder.
You’ve probably noticed, in the last few years there has been a flood of information, in all forms of media, about ‘energy audits’ …and by now you may be wondering what this is all about where you can get concise, relevant, meaningful information that you can actually do something with. Even with soaring energy costs, many homeowners still don’t understand the value of a home audit. This is an audit that will actually save you money.
In conversation with experts time and time again I hear, “It is a proven fact that making your home more energy efficient is the surest and most direct route to saving energy and lowering you monthly bills” — John Carlos of GreeningDetroit.com. Fortunately this is a lot easier and less expensive than you may think. You probably don’t have to take the utility bills out of the file to know approximately what your winter heating and summer cooling bills are (if you are a DTE or Consumers Energy customer …you can view them online). Just imagine opening that envelope and seeing them total about HALF of what they are now.
Years of data from independent research and the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that buildings are responsible for 48% of greenhouse gas emissions annually and 76% of all electricity generated by U.S. power plants (often coal fired) goes to supply the building sector. Of all that energy use we also know that up to half is wasted. Yes wasted. Experts estimate that air leakage alone accounts for about 30 percent of heating expense that is wasted. As a homeowner, this is where it is in your best interest to stop those leaks.
Consider a Professional Home Energy Audit where a professional can perform a more detailed audit using tools such as a blower door test, thermal imaging and infrared scanning, duct-leakage testing and air-flow evaluations.
For more information about energy audits, please visit https://www.greeningdetroit.com/green-homes/green-homes-services-directory/ for homes and https://www.greeningdetroit.com/commercial-industrial-buildings/commercial-industrial-service-directory/ for commerical and industrial buildings.
Source: GreeningDetroit.com
Story: Douglas Elbinger