During a home energy audit, a professional will look at key points of your home to help determine where energy is lost, how much energy you are using, and how to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient.
Home energy audits help you target problem areas, such as cold, drafty spaces, and find solutions as well as save you money on your energy bills. They also prevent you from spending money on solutions for problems that don’t actually exist.
You can do a basic walkthrough of your own home to spot air or water leaks, or check your appliances and lights for energy efficiency, but a professional home energy audit is the most cost-effective way to find and fix energy issues in your home.
The experienced home energy auditors at Ambient Edge have the expertise and proper equipment to track down and repair energy drains in your home and save you money.
Call us today or fill out the form to request a consultation.
What Happens During a Home Energy Audit
During a home energy audit, your Ambient Edge specialist will help set a baseline for your energy consumption during previous years. He or she will ask about problem areas in your home, check both the outside and inside of your home, and do a blower door test, among other checks.
A blower door test uses a special fan and sealing system, which is placed over your main entry door. The forceful fan lowers the air pressure inside of the house by pulling air out. This helps your auditor more effectively track down air leaks throughout your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average home has so many air leaks that it’s like leaving a window open 24 hours per day!
Other areas we look at during a home energy audit include:
- The amount and type of insulation, air and water leaks in the attic
- Your furnace and water heater
- Any other appliances that use combustible fuel, like gas stoves or dryers
- Energy usage of your major electrical appliances
- Air leaks or condensation on or near windows and doors
- Fireplaces (gas or wood-burning), if applicable
- Wall insulation and any air leaks around outlets
Why You Should Have a Comprehensive Home Energy Audit
The number-one reason to have a home energy audit is that it will reveal how you can save money on your energy bills — more money than you might expect! In fact, homeowners can save up to 30% on energy bills by making the fixes described in a home energy audit report, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
The average energy bill for a typical single-family home in the United States is $2,060. The majority of that consists of home heating, cooling, and water heating. Electronics, including small appliances, computers, TVs, etc., make up another large portion of energy bills.
In addition to the savings on your energy bills, your home will also be more comfortable and easier to live in year-round. Energy-efficient homes are also better for the environment and healthier, with fewer indoor air quality issues. The more energy-efficient your home is, the lower your carbon footprint can be, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions your home is responsible for.
Some things you can do to improve your home include:
- Maintaining, properly sealing, or upgrading windows and doors and skylights to seal out air and/or water leaks
- EnergyStar appliances to help lower electricity usage and stop energy waste
- Ensuring you have the correct water heater size and type for your home can reduce hot water usage while keeping water temperature safe and satisfactory
- Energy-efficient lighting and smart use of daylight keep your home properly lit with lower costs
- A simple programmable thermostat can automatically adjust the temperature in your home so you use less energy when you’re not at home or don’t need it
- Adding more of the proper type of insulation to under-insulated spaces helps keep your whole home cozy
If you’re planning on selling your home, an energy audit can help you find simple fixes that make your home more marketable and help avoid issues during later home inspections. Similarly, if you’re purchasing a new home, conducting a home energy audit before making a final commitment can help you learn about any problem areas, what to expect with your future energy bills, and, in the worst-case scenario, make sure you avoid a money trap with major issues (having to replace all windows, doors, and insulation, for example).
Sometimes making energy-efficient updates makes your home so much more comfortable, it may eliminate some of the reasons you’re thinking of moving! A drafty house with high heating and cooling bills is a lot less desirable than a well-sealed, draft-free home with lower energy bills.
What to Do with the Results of Your Home Energy Audit
An energy audit is an information-gathering stage. Your Ambient Edge specialist will share your home energy report with you. From there, we will discuss:
- Priority areas and safety issues
- Information about rebates for energy-efficient upgrades
- Any repairs or enhancements you need to make
- Any projects you’d like to tackle
We’ll show you the cause of your home energy issues and help determine the best solution based on your home and budget. We’ll even help you figure out which improvements will give you the biggest bang for your buck.
Schedule Your Home Energy Audit in Paradise, NV Today
Ready to make your home more comfortable, safer, and energy-efficient – all while saving money? Call the experts at Ambient Edge now or send us a message to schedule a home energy audit.
