Why Your Home Needs a Home Energy Audit

This heating season, you probably want to save money on your energy use. This is especially true during this winter's cold snap that has affected much of the country as far south as Miami and Houston. But that might not be the only reason. You might find that your home's HVAC system is always running hard but can't adequately heat your home. Or some rooms in your house seem cooler or hotter than others. Maybe you noticed a mold or mildew problem in a room other than your bathroom. Perhaps your water heater can't keep up with demand. You can fix these problems by starting with a home energy audit.

How does a home energy audit work?

An energy audit looks at several specific features of your home. First, it lists the characteristics of your home's thermal envelope: walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, and skylights. Each of these features has a specific R-value, which is a measurement of the resistance to heat flow. The higher the resistance (or R-value), the better the insulative quality. Another factor is the leakage rate or how much outside air infiltrates into your home. Drafty doors and windows are the primary culprits here, however, other features of your home's construction, age, orientation to the sun, and physical condition will have an effect. A third area to look at is your home's mechanical system - the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) as well as the heating water.

Energy Star provides a Home Energy Yardstick website so you can compare your household's energy use to the rest of the country. The site is a good place to start and gives some basic recommendations about making home energy efficiency improvements.

Generally, performing your own energy audit will help you discover most of the major energy usage problems in your house. For example, locating and sealing air leaks will help you save money and make your home more comfortable. An easy way is to wet your hand and then feel for drafts around:

* Electrical outlets
* Switch plates
* Window frames
* Baseboards
* Weather stripping around doors
* Fireplace dampers
* Attic hatches
* Wall or window-mounted air conditioners.

Look and feel for gaps where pipes and wires enter a wall. Also check where your floor meets the foundation. And don't forget mail slots. Check to see if caulking and weather stripping are applied properly and in good condition.

Every house and lifestyle, is different. It's safe to say that climate and location are primary factors in how your home performs. The other major factor is how you use energy in your home. When combined with information about local weather, the home's thermostat settings, as well as energy bills for a 12 month period (24 is more accurate), an energy audit can render a more accurate picture of how your home uses energy.

Unless you already have a few years experience of belly-crawling the dusty, cramped spaces of your home to weather-seal it, you should consider having a professional visit and perform an energy audit. Now you might think all an energy auditor does is seal a fan onto your front door and then prowl your house looking for drafts. Sure, they might perform this test, but not only do you get the benefit of their years of training and experience, you also gain from a fresh perspective.

Professionals can often see things you have overlooked that can help you save on your energy costs and be more energy efficient. For example, a slight discoloration along a corner of your living room wall might indicate an unsealed gap in your home's framing that lets in cold air and moisture. This and other hidden heat loss can also be detected with heat-sensitive cameras, a tool most homeowners don't own.

A qualified energy auditor can also give you an informed choice of options. Some fixes might just require a tube of $4.00 caulk to save you $100.00 in energy costs. Some fixes might be more expensive but can be done over time. An energy auditor can make recommendations for improvements and solutions based on what they learn about your living habits, needs, and budget. This can include efficient low-wattage lighting fixtures, getting the best insulation for your buck, as well was Energy Star rated appliances and upgrades so you can take advantage of both Federal and State rebate offers.

Remember, not only will an energy audit show you where to start saving money to heat your home this winter but it will identify cooling problems that cost you during the hot summer months. But whether or not you decide to do it yourself or consult a professional, you should do it as soon as possible so you can identify your home's problems and develop a plan of action. After all, making your home energy efficient not only saves money, energy, and natural resources, it also makes your home more comfortable and enjoyable for you and your family.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/531597/why-your-home-needs-a-home-energy-audit.htm

Top Reasons for a Home Energy Assessment

As energy conservation becomes more and more of a priority for homeowners, many people are opting to receive home energy assessments--also frequently called home energy audits. There are steps you can take to assess the level of energy consumption in your home and identify opportunities to reduce it. However, a professional energy auditor may be able to more closely hone in on the problems and target the areas where energy saving is most possible.   Whether you take the DIY route or hire an expert, a home energy assessment is important for several reasons--here are five of them:

1. Save money! Many people take the energy efficient route because they believe it will save them money, and in the long run, they're absolutely right. Installing a programmable thermostat that switches into conservation mode when you're not at home; getting better insulation in your attic; putting in new, energy-smart windows…all of these actions will, in time, save you money.

2. Earn money! Another reason many people receive home energy audits is because it makes them eligible for rebates of some kind. Whether from a governmental rebate program, your power company or the manufacturer of an Energy Star appliance you recently purchased, rebates from anywhere are appreciated and a great way to cushion the cost of making energy-saving upgrades.

3. Enhance your level of comfort. If you have drafty windows or doors, you know they can be uncomfortable in colder months. Livable attic and basement space is often difficult to equally heat or cool alongside the rest of the home. Keeping your home more consistently comfortable, and doing so in a manner that doesn't waste energy and money, is one of the greatest benefits that comes from making changes based on a home energy assessment.

4. Professional home energy assessments vary depending on who performs them, but comprehensive audits will include things such as carbon monoxide testing; checking of the ducts; inspection for mold or moisture in the home; and the inspection of the home's ventilation. If problems are found, they are not only energy inefficient, they can also be dangerous to you and your family. Potential safety threats found in a home energy audit should be dealt with immediately.

5. If you're planning to rent, sell or make improvements to your home, a home energy assessment is a wonderful idea. If you have dated appliances, a hot water heater or an HVAC system that will likely need replacing regardless, do so with an energy efficient model. For whatever reason you're planning to make upgrades, it is most sensible to do so with energy efficiency in mind.

While home energy assessments may seem superfluous, they offer a valid, solid foundation on which you can make an action plan for saving money, improving the comfort of your home and ultimately making your property safer and more valuable. You don't necessarily have to spend thousands of dollars and months of time making all the energy efficient improvements you need simultaneously. But, as a homeowner, it is wise to know where the problems and challenges lay and have a course of action in place to resolve them.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/1317394/top-reasons-for-a-home-energy-assessment.htm

How to Create a Personalized Home Energy Conservation System

Notice I didn't say "how to install" an energy conservation system. To create an energy conservation system that's going to reduce your home's energy consumption requires a combination of conservation and efficiency, or choices and technology.
Here's how you create a home energy conservation plan that will help you reduce your home's electric bill.
Think about like this:
·        Conservation results from conscious choices over time.
·        Efficiency utilizes technology.

Start With Conservation
Conservation is not deprivation or lack.
Simply put, conservation is being aware of how much energy your home uses and making behavioral changes in your energy habits. Conservation takes into account the final end sum of the energy it takes to maintain your home's minimal comfort level.
The minimum comfort level of your home cannot be measured against another home. Factors vary with each home's location, family size, and family lifestyle.
If you live in Maine, your greatest energy expense may be heating your home; if you live in south Texas, your greatest expense may be cooling your home. A family of two (2) whose members work away from home five (5) days per week need less energy than a family of four (4) who work from home.
Think about. Look at the ways your home uses energy. Heating, cooling, heating water, cooking and storing food, lights, laundry, and electronic equipment.

Here are five (5) actions to begin reducing your overall energy use?
·        adjust your heating system thermostat down in winter,
·        turn your cooling system thermostat up in summer
·        take short showers instead of long baths
·        wash laundry in cold water
·        turn lights of when leaving a room

Now Add Efficiency
Efficiency is the use of technology to maximize our conscious conservation choices.
Here's how to apply technology to the conservation choices listed above.
·        Install a digital, programmable thermostat compatible with your heating and cooling system. Program the thermostat for the temperature settings that work for you during the day, at night, and while family members are away from home.
·        Reduce your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees (rather than the manufacturer's setting of 140 degrees)
·        Install a timer on your electric water heater. Set it to automatically come on during the hours your family actually uses hot water for showers and laundry. Set it to automatically turn off when no one is home to use it.
·        Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when you replace your standard incandescent bulbs.
Making conscious decisions to reduce your home's energy consumption coupled with the technology compatible with your choices, creates a personalized energy-reducing plan for your home. In a sense, you put your energy conservation on automatic pilot.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2041596

What Are the Different Home Energy Savings For Seattle Residence?

As the problem on global warming and depletion of energy sources continue to haunt nations, more people are becoming aware of energy saving. Various states have initiated efforts to tap renewable sources of energy and teach the public on how to lessen their energy consumption whether at home or at work. States have come up with laws and incentives to encourage the public to save energy. One state that continuously supports energy saving is Seattle. The different home energy savings for Seattle residence are proven helpful in reducing energy consumption as well as environment pollution.

Many tips on home energy savings for Seattle residence recommend conducting your own home energy assessment or commonly known as home energy audit. This allows you to detect how much energy your home consumes and take the necessary steps to lessen energy consumption in order to make your home energy efficient.

A home energy audit can check the different areas of your home and point out where you are using more energy. Aside from assessing your energy consumption, the home energy assessment can also give you ideas on how to save on electricity and water. Check air leaks or drafts in your window frames, baseboards, electrical outlets, mail slots and attic hatches among others. Air leaks create heat loss. Experts indicate that you can save as much as five percent to thirty percent in your energy consumption every year by simply fixing these air leaks.

Aside from air leaks, proper home insulation also helps in conserving energy. Inadequate insulation also results to heat loss and a primary reason of energy waste. Various cooling and heating equipment account for the majority of any home's energy use. Clean them annually and check it for any damage. It is also advisable to change your furnace filters at least once a month. You can also clean and seal all your home heating ducts. Furthermore, check the wattage size of the light bulbs used in your homes. Energy coming from lighting takes up ten percent of the electric bill. To save money and energy as well, change your light bulbs into compact fluorescent lamps or energy efficient lamps. Nowadays, more homes opt to use solar energy by installing photovoltaic cells on their roofs.

Home energy savings for Seattle residence does not only involve saving on electricity. It also includes water conservation. Over the years, the world has witnessed the scarcity of clean source of water. By saving on water and using water wisely, the next generation is assured of a steady supply of safe and clean water. Simple steps like turning off the faucet while brushing the teeth or fixing water leaks in faucets can make a big difference. Other ways to save water include upgrading toilets into water efficient models, keep the water used for washing fruits and vegetables and used it to water the plants, tightly turn off faucets after every use and shorten the time you spend in the shower to name a few.

These home energy savings for Seattle residence are intended not only to save on energy but also help the public to save more money. It also contributes to a cleaner environment by eliminating pollution.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/1406022/what-are-the-different-home-energy-savings-for-seattle-residence.htm

Solar Panels for Your Home Energy Needs

Solar Panels for Your Home Energy Needs

Green energy benefits everyone, from business owners to home owners. Solar power can be used to provide power for anything electrical. Governmental support helps add popularity to an already growing phenomenon of energy conservation efforts. Solar panels for a home are designed to provide the energy required to run all aspects of a home's electrical needs, including heat. Home solar panel systems are the biggest sellers in available in the solar panel system market. To provide the ability for optimal performance, most solar panel systems have compatible accessories and equipment that a consumer can purchase with heir solar panel system. A tracker can automatically rotate your solar panels to pick up the best concentration of sunlight. This saves you from having to climb up on your roof when the seasons change and the sun's directions changes. This accessory is also a benefit to those homeowners who do not have a south-facing house. You can also add accessories that would allow you to heat the water in your pool. You would be able to enjoy consistent water temperature all year long!

More recently, the installation of solar panel systems during the construction process has become popular. This process allows a more comprehensive installation of solar panel systems, primarily because of the added stability during mounting. With an open roof, the solar panel frames can be mounted directly to the support beams of the roof which bypasses the plywood and shingles. The rest of the roof is then built around the solar panel system. The only drawback is that this type of installation does not provide optimal energy production if the solar panels are not faced in the southern direction.

If you have reservations about adding a bulky solar panel system to the top of your house, there is another solution for you. You can also purchase flexible thin film solar panels. These alternatives are so versatile that they can be placed on many services. As long as there is enough sunlight, you do not have to mount these solar panels systems to your roof. For house that do not face south, this is a good choice because you can create a space in your yard to mount these solar panel systems.

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Solar-Panels-for-Your-Home-Energy-Needs/1347401/

How Brick Stone Can Make Your Home Energy Efficient

Brick Stone Home Energy Efficient
A home that's energy-efficient is actually healthier and more cost effective. Energy efficiency modifications in your home can eliminate or at least lessen the poor quality of air that's brought in by various weather conditions. One way to make your home energy efficient is to pay attention to the building materials and to the house design.

In Australia, bricks have long been recognized as commonly chosen building materials. In fact, nearly 90% of built houses are constructed using bricks. Because of the campaign to decrease energy consumption in its entire form, there are building regulations these days that require the newly built houses to be more energy efficient. There are some things you need to know in order to come up with an informed choice.
Think about the amount of energy that's usually consumed in your home. Maybe, you'll be surprised to find out that a large part of the home energy is used up in cooling and heating. Cooking and lighting, even when put together, comprise only a few percent. Hence, anything which can help lessen the cooling and heating bills of your home will be a good investment, right? But the question is, do you think it is possible to cut down cooling and heating energy consumption while keeping up a practical thermal comfort inside your home? It is in this case that passive design comes into play.
Passive design handles the energy coming from the sun to improve the house's cooling and heating in a natural way. There are actually four major principles in passive design. These are orientation, ventilation, insulation and thermal mass.
Orientation - The huge glass portion in the north part allows the low winter sun in. And to block the high summer sun, simple shading like eaves is applied.
Ventilation - When the crest of summer time has already passed, air is permitted to get in and go out of the house in order to make it cool in a natural manner. To optimize cross ventilation, either side of the building or the house has generous openings with almost negligible internal obstructions.
Insulation - The insulation in the wall and ceiling serves as the obstacle to heat transportation. Insulation efficiency can be calculated by means of its R-value but it doesn't present the whole issue. Various walls may have the same R-value but may not work the same.
Thermal Mass - Wall materials that are dense and heavy, like bricks, suck up heat and hamper its conveyance through the walls. Through these, temperature changes become moderate and the heat absorption during summer is significantly hampered. Compared to brick walls, the lightweight materials have very low thermal mass. And because of this thermal mass, brick walls turn out to be more capable of moderating home temperature even if they have similar R-values.
Now come to think of thermal mass and consider brick stone. The first two techniques in the passive design, which are orientation and ventilation, need to be set up into the house. And your home material preference has a major effect on the quantity of thermal mass in a house or a building. One of the simplest and most economical ways to put up thermal mass is through bricks. Those bricks that are made from clay contain very high thermal mass. They are available to make your home well ventilated, comfortable and more energy efficient.
There is a research proving the idea that Brick stone homes are energy efficient. The said research has revealed that a large part of the heat is bounced back to the outside environment via the brick's exterior panel. Another conclusion that came out is that in summertime, the temperature inside a home that's constructed from bricks remained favorable and comfortable in spite of the changing temperature outside.
The US Department of Energy stated that thermal mass stores up heat by means of converting its temperature. It can be achieved by storing heat coming from a warm room or by means or transforming direct solar radiation into heat. And since brick stone has more thermal mass than other building lightweight materials, it is a very useful element that can be used up in making your home more energy efficient.
To sum up, brick is a very simple and inexpensive technique in putting up thermal mass in your next home. Therefore a brick stone home is more energy efficient than those thatare made from other materials.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1759053

The Reality Behind Home Energy Consumption

"Expensive" is just one of the words that people today use to describe electricity bills. It seems that every day, the cost of electricity keeps getting higher and higher. Because of this, home energy consumption needs to be a top priority for any household, especially these days with times as tough as they are.

New energy technology, of course, takes some time to perfect. In the meantime, there are a lot of do-it-yourself home improvement projects you can do to minimize your home energy consumption with small adjustments to your home in order to improve its energy efficiency.

When you use the air-conditioning system or the furnace, maybe you shouldn't turn the thermostat up so high. It's not like you are living in the equator or the North Pole, for crying out loud. And when you go out of the house, you do not really need to keep your air-conditioning on, do you? Think of how much you will be able to eliminate from your home energy consumption by just turning these appliances off when you are not using them.

What about the kitchen? Kitchen appliances count for 26.7 percent of home energy consumption. Of course, you can't really turn off your refrigerator when you are not home, could you? Don't panic, however, there are a lot of alternatives in order to help you reduce your electricity bill. Leaving the refrigerator door open increases your home energy consumption, so don't leave it hanging open while you spread the butter on your toast in the morning. Heat rushes inside the refrigerator which means that the fridge has to consume more electricity in order to maintain its internal temperature. If you leave the door open, you are wasting electricity and increasing your home energy consumption.

The energy of information administration of the US department of energy has recently concluded a survey on the home energy consumption of US households during the year 2001. Through this data, we can at least gain an insight of which appliances are costing us. At the top of the list, of course, is climate control. Would you believe that American households consume 355.7 billion kWh just to keep themselves cool or hot? That's 31.2 percent of the total home energy consumption! Do you really need to consume so much energy just to feel hot or cold?

Water heating cost US households 104.1 billion kWh in electricity. Cutting down on the time you spend in a hot shower can cut down on your water heating bills.

As a matter of fact, there are solar heaters out there which not only save electricity by using solar power to heat your water, but these can also be connected to power small appliances. If everyone just invested in these ideas, people would be able to lessen their home energy consumption considerably.

There are a lot of easy ways you can cut back on your home energy consumption. Just by exerting a little effort, we can save a lot of our money. Did you realize how much energy our homes consume just because of wastefulness?

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Reality-Behind-Home-Energy-Consumption&id=1746978

The Home Energy Yardstick Can Help You Save Energy And Money

Every family uses energy differently in their home. It all depends on the family's lifestyle, habits and the home they live in. The type of heating and air conditioning you have, how you heat your water, your lighting and appliances are all a major part of your energy usage and cost. If you want to discover how you really use energy around your house then you should try the "Home Energy Yardstick". It's a great place to start when looking to discover not only how you use energy but any problems you or your home has with inefficient use of energy.

To use the Home Energy Yardstick doesn't take very long but it does take some effort. There are some things you will need to know about your home like the last three months of hydro and gas or other energy bills. The size of your home and most of the rest you shouldn't have to look up. The length of time it with take you will depend somewhat on the complexity of your home. But it really is quite easy and you can do it online.
One of the things Energy Star's Home Energy Yardstick does is compare your use of energy with how other homes of similar size and geographic location use energy. This in itself will give you an idea of how efficient your home is along with maybe how good or bad your habits are when it comes to using energy. For instance I know some people who complain about their energy bills but run around the house in the middle of winter with nothing on their feet and the front door open and only the storm closed. Not good habits for saving energy.
If the home energy yardstick does not give you enough information of course you could always have a comprehensive energy audit done on your house by a professional energy auditor. An energy audit will give you a more complete picture of how you use energy around your house. An added feature of the audit is it will also identify potential health or safety issues that you might have as well.
You need to understand that every home is unique in the way it uses energy. If you are really want to reduce the energy use of your home, you really need to know how a where you will get the most bang for your buck. For example, if you know you have poor windows and you are leaking a lot of your heat to the outdoors that maybe should be priority number one. It would also be more cost effective to do that than for example add insulation. If your furnace is not new but not in bad shape but your habits are poor then replacing the furnace will really do little to help save energy.
Figuring out where the problems are is step one. Fixing the issues is really step two and can take a while to complete depending on how aggressive you are able to approach the problems. Keeping your home running efficiently should be your long term goal and will take the rest of your days in your home working on it.
Do you realize the average family's utility bills are about $1,900 a year? The problem is a lot of that money and energy is wasted. Not only that but each year the electricity produced for a single home often by fossil fuels, produces more carbon dioxide than two average cars.
The Home Energy Yardstick can help you in make your home more efficient. You can do-it-yourself in just minutes. Make your home more energy efficient, help reduce your high energy bills and help the environment.
Start making small changes today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6123778

Solar Home Energy For Homeowners

Have you ever considered installing your own solar home energy system ? The sun has always been a source of heat and light energy. Now with the advancement of technology, the sun's power can be used to create other forms of usable energy.

With the world moving towards a deepening energy crisis, it is important that we reduce our dependency on non-renewable sources. Three types of energy solutions fall into the category of renewable energy: solar energy, hydro energy and wind energy. For the homeowner a solar home energy system probably is the best choice. Hydro energy is not really a viable option plus there are some concerns about using this energy because it is believed to adversely affect the water-borne flora and fauna. Wind energy would be a viable alternative depending on the physical setting but there is concern that power generating windmills could be unsightly if not mounted in a discreet location and this may not always be possible. Although in the correct situation wind power could be a workable solution and could also be used in tandem with a solar home energy system.

With a solar home energy system the solar panels can be placed in a relatively obscure location thus not becoming aesthetically displeasing plus with the advent of continued development it is now possible for the construction of the required components and the installation to be carried out by the home handyman. There are a number of instructional publications now available authored by expert professionals who have spent much of their working life studying and implementing solar power solutions. The publications give detailed step by step instructions on obtaining the materials, constructing the solar panels and then the subsequent installation as well as the legalities.

A correctly installed solar home energy system can cost as little as $ 200 for a homeowner to manufacture and install and with the potential savings nearing close to 80% of a normal household electricity bill it is not hard to see why a solar home energy system is fast becoming a popular home addition. In some situations over production can lead the homeowner into a position of being able to sell his surplus solar power back to the electric company thus making a profit on the overall situation.

The sun's energy is the most abundant energy available on earth and by employing this free source a homeowner not only reduces his consumption of "manufactured" electricity but also contributes to a greener world.

A solar home energy system has many advantages apart from being cost-effective and environment-friendly. They are low on maintenance thus saving time and effort. Also, solar home energy systems give you a return on investment very soon, thus making the systems free after just a few weeks or as illustrated above a profit could be experienced if over production occurs, indeed it would be best to bear in mind this situation when designing the system to ensure an over production. If space allowed the installation of extra solar panels then this would provide an ideal income source.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/321598/solar-home-energy-for-homeowners.htm

Important Reasons to Have a Home Energy Check Up

Are you aware of how important and beneficial a home energy check up can be? Let me tell you indeed how significantly it can help you to save on your energy bills.

The home energy check up is an evaluation of your home that you can do either by yourself or by hiring a professional to do it. This evaluation is really important when you are trying to saving energy as it helps you determine the exact areas your home that can be improved and made more energy efficient.

In order to make the check up as effective as possible it is best completed when your whole family is present. They all need to understand and be a part of implementing the changes that need to happen. If you have younger kids it is your responsibility to help them value the energy used around the house and therefore learn to use it wisely and efficiently.

Today more and more people want to save energy around their house but they want to do it their way. Unfortunately only a few of them actually take advantage of the resources and tools available to them. Some of those are the home energy check up, the home energy yardstick and government incentives, as well as many others.

As a family unfortunately your individual efforts may be offset by another member of the family's irresponsible actions. That is why everyone in your household must be a part of the check up and work together to implement the changes. 

Here are 5 basic energy saving techniques:

1. To switch off lights when you're not in the room is an easy energy conserving technique, yet not many people take advantage of it.

2. Turn off your electronics instead of letting them sit on standby. You may assume that standby has the same energy saving potential to switching the item off but that's simply not true. The truth is that a TV on standby still consumes around 60% of the energy it uses while it is on. Off uses no energy.

3. Use the new energy efficient light bulbs. These light bulbs have a number of advantages over the typical incandescent bulbs. They last 10 times longer, consume 25% less energy, and produce a brighter, whiter light. They operate cool which means they don't waste energy in the form of heat.

4. Improve the exterior of your home. Get rid of all sources of drafts of cold air coming into your home by eliminating any cracks and holes, this can save a lot of energy. You can do this with caulking or spray foam and weather stripping.

3. Use the sun's natural heat to help heat your home. You can do this by opening your window curtains during day time and closing them at sunset. This allows your home to gain daytime heat from the sun and keep it in during the night.

Saving energy at home is not that difficult to do, yet many people are still not taking advantage of these common sense ideas that can save them money. There could be many more reasons that you need to know about your home that would make a home energy check up worth your efforts.

By completing a home energy check up you will know what you need to do to improve your home's energy efficiency. That along with the list above will allow you to make the changes necessary around your home. It is important that you realize that it is dependent on you to do the work.

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Important-Reasons-to-Have-a-Home-Energy-Check-Up/4314796/

How to Conduct a Home Energy Audit For Energy Efficiency

Almost a quarter of the total energy used in the U.S. is consumed right in our homes, so energy efficiency should be a vital part of our lives. On average, heating and cooling uses about 40 percent of a home's total energy, while lights and heating water use another 20 percent, and large household appliances consume around another 15 percent of the total. That's a lot of energy going into our homes, and with ongoing concerns about energy shortages and the environment, along with rising energy prices, anything that can help ensure our homes are more energy-efficient is definitely worth considering. But where does a homeowner start?

A home energy audit is what can help you figure out how energy-efficient your home is. Home energy audits can determine how efficiently your home is using energy right now, pin point problem areas you may not even be aware of, and perhaps more importantly, help you prioritize ways to improve your home's overall energy efficiency.

How Does One Go About a Home Energy Audit?

There are a number of ways to conduct an energy audit of your home, ranging from hiring trained and qualified professionals to simple, easy-to-use online assessment tools.

Hiring a Professional

A professional home energy audit will go into much greater detail than a quick online assessment. Since you are hiring trained professionals who will be using specialized equipment, the final report will obviously be much more comprehensive. Make sure you devote the time and budget to this if you are having it done professionally.

o  A professional audit will usually begin with an interview during which you will be asked a number of questions regarding how you and your family live (how many people in the home, are all the rooms used, average temperature settings in winter and summer, etc.), as well as a comprehensive look at your utility bills going back for at least a year.

o  Next would be a thorough examination of your home from the outside (noting things such as the amount of wall area versus the number of windows, their size, shape and make-up, plus their orientation (which way they are facing), and the position of your home on its lot.

o  The final step in a professional home energy audit would be a room-by-room inspection of your home using specialized equipment, such as infrared cameras, furnace efficiency meters, surface thermometers and blower doors to help determine areas where energy could be lost.

o  The outcome of all this effort will be a detailed report highlighting how efficiently your home is using energy right now, as well as a providing a list of changes you could implement to improve your home's energy utilization.

Finding a Home Energy Auditor

o  You may be able to get recommendations from your state or local government energy office, or your electric or gas utility.

o  Check your telephone directory by looking under Energy for companies that perform home energy audits.

o  Consult the , and find professional home energy auditors in your state.

Conducting Your Own Home Energy Audit

If you have time and you are willing to put in the effort, you can do your own basic home energy audit in about half a day. Essentially, doing your own home energy audit involves determining if your home has adequate insulation, as well as looking for areas where there may be air leaks or infiltration that would force your home to use extra energy. Here is how to conduct your own simple energy audit.

o  Start by measuring the insulation in your attic. Since up to 50 percent of a home's energy loss is through the roof, adequate insulation in imperative. The Department of Energy recommends that if you have less than R-30 insulation in your attic (R-30 equals 11 inches of fiberglass or eight inches of blown cellulose), you should add more.

o  Air moving in and out of your home will add a lot to your heating and cooling bills, so walk around the inside of your home, and look for any air leaks. A burning incense stick or even a tissue balanced on a pencil will act as a good indicator of moving air. Simply move it around window frames and door edges, and see if there is air movement. If you see any leaks, you have found gaps that need to be filled with caulking or weather stripping.

o   Check heating and cooling ducts to be sure there are not any gaps that will allow air to escape, forcing your furnace or air conditioner to work harder to heat or cool your home.

o  Also while outside, look at areas where two types of building material come together (window frame and siding for example) to see if there are any openings on the outside that need to be blocked. Also check where pipes and cables come through the walls to be sure there are no openings.

Visit the ENERGY STAR website. Sign in, answer some basic questions about your home, such as how many people live there, how big it is, the type of heating system you have, and the amount of your energy bills for the past year. After you submit your information, you will receive a report outlining how your home compares to others across the country, as well as some suggestions about how you could improve your home's energy efficiency.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Conduct-a-Home-Energy-Audit-For-Energy-Efficiency&id=3098209