If you’re like many homeowners, you look at your heating and cooling bills and wonder why they seem so high. You’re grateful that your home feels comfortable, but how much money and energy is going into all that? Residential buildings are prone to having hidden energy losses. Having a home energy audit by Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical can help you find the inefficiencies and see what is wasting energy. Knowing which improvements can enhance your comfort while reducing costs helps you plan your home’s future upgrades.
What Is a Home Energy Audit?
An energy audit is an assessment by which a professional evaluates how efficiently your home uses energy. The intention is to identify areas where energy is being lost and recommend improvements to lower your household’s power consumption. Consequently, your utility bills should decrease, too.
During the audit, a trained professional or team inspects your home’s structure, insulation levels, HVAC systems, appliances, and windows. Specialized tools and testing methods measure energy performance, identifying inefficiencies that might not be visible in a basic inspection.
Energy audits are also called home energy assessments. Whatever the name, they provide a detailed report that outlines problem areas. You also receive a list of suggested upgrades to improve efficiency.
These audits are especially useful for older homes that might have hidden air leaks, aging HVAC equipment, or outdated insulation. That said, even a newer home can benefit from an energy assessment, particularly if its builder used poor insulation practices or construction shortcuts.
What an Energy Audit Looks For
A home energy audit pays specific attention to components that impact energy efficiency the most. This often starts with insulation. Insufficient insulation in walls, attics, or crawl spaces allows heat to enter in the summer and escape in the winter. That forces HVAC systems to work harder, increasing energy costs.
Air leaks are another significant area of focus. Gaps around doors, windows, ductwork, and even electrical outlets can allow conditioned air to escape, outdoor air to enter, or both. These leaks can make a room feel drafty, increasing the demand for heating or cooling.
HVAC systems undergo evaluation. Auditors check the condition, age, and efficiency of air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces. Older equipment might consume a lot more energy than a modern high-efficiency system.
The assessment also covers doors and windows. Poorly sealed frames or single-pane windows can substantially increase energy loss.
In a thorough audit, lighting and appliances might get some attention. Upgrading older appliances or switching to energy-efficient lighting can reduce power consumption over time.
How Much Energy Can an Audit Help You Save?
The biggest question you might have about an energy audit is whether it results in meaningful savings. In the case of many homes, the answer is a resounding yes.
An energy audit identifies improvements specific and unique to your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), most homeowners save between 5% and 30% on future energy bills by implementing the upgrades their home energy audits recommend.
Insulation and air sealing upgrades alone can frequently reduce HVAC costs by approximately 15%. Given that heating and cooling account for almost half of a typical household’s energy use, even a small improvement can generate significant savings.
Lighting upgrades are another potential difference-maker. You can reduce your home’s lighting energy use by up to 75% by switching from incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs. Energy-efficient appliances can also lower electricity consumption. For instance, modern refrigerators typically use less than half the power of models made 20 years ago. Combining multiple improvements can yield substantial energy savings over time.
When a Home Energy Audit Makes the Most Sense
Any homeowner can benefit from having an energy audit. However, certain circumstances make them particularly valuable, including living in an older home, unexplained high energy bills, uneven temperatures between rooms, and before doing renovations.
An older home is a prime candidate for an energy audit. Houses built decades ago often lack modern insulation standards. They might also have significant air leakage, whether from the start or developing over time.
Homeowners who routinely experience high energy bills without any obvious explanation can also take advantage of a home energy audit. A thorough assessment can uncover hidden issues that are increasing utility bills, such as insulation gaps, duct leaks, and HVAC inefficiencies.
If different rooms have different temperatures, but you have central HVAC conditioning the entire home, the hot or cold spots might suggest insufficient insulation or airflow problems. A home energy assessment can identify the problem and suggest corrective actions.
Energy audits are useful before you undergo major renovations. Finding efficiency issues early means you can address them during construction and incorporate improvements into the project. Even a new homeowner might want to schedule an audit shortly after they buy a property. This can help them understand the energy performance of their new home to plan the right improvements accordingly.
Making Your Home More Efficient After the Audit
After the audit, you’ll receive a report outlining specific recommendations for home improvements. These typically prioritize upgrades based on potential energy savings and cost-effectiveness.
Air sealing is a common first step. Weather-stripping doors, sealing ductwork, and caulking gaps can result in substantial reductions in energy loss at relatively low cost. Adding insulation is another common recommendation. Insulating crawl spaces or adding more attic insulation can quickly improve efficiency.
Installing a smart thermostat can help your household control heating and cooling schedules more effectively. Upgrading HVAC systems is a good idea if your equipment is inefficient or outdated. High-efficiency air conditioners, furnaces, and heat pumps significantly reduce energy consumption. Installing smart thermostats can also help homeowners control heating and cooling schedules more effectively.
You don’t have to implement all the improvements at once. Many homeowners take a gradual approach, starting with upgrades that deliver the biggest return on investment before moving down the list.
Deciding Whether an Energy Audit Is Right for Your Home
A home energy audit can provide you with valuable insight into how your home uses energy. By identifying hidden issues, including inefficient equipment, poor insulation, and air leaks, the audit can help you make informed decisions about potential upgrades.
The potential for future savings is significant. Improvements that reduce energy use from 3% to 5% can lower your monthly bills and improve your household comfort. In addition to financial benefits, energy efficiency upgrades can extend the lifespan of HVAC systems, improve indoor air quality, and increase overall home performance.
We offer residential and commercial clients in Medina and the surrounding areas of Ohio electrical services including ceiling fans, light switches, and outlet repairs. Contact Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical for a home energy audit that can make your home more comfortable and efficient.
