Performing an Energy Audit- How to tell if your home is efficient or not

If you are committed to making sure your energy bills are as low as possible, you may want to perform an energy audit. This will involve having experts examine your home in a number of ways and make sure that you are not losing energy that can be retained through updates and retrofitting. By making sure that your home is as energy efficient as possible, you can reduce your heating and electricity bills and enjoy a home that is comfortable and affordable to live in.

Windows and door
Your home can lose an excessive amount of energy (in the form of heat) through windows and doors. If your windows are older or if you are noticing any drafts or cold spots you definitely want to make sure that your windows and doors get examined carefully. Experts will be able to tell what kind of windows you have and whether they are in good condition. If they are not, they can recommend products to use that will increase the amount of heat that is retained by your home.

Modern windows are usually made up of multiple panes of glass that have a layer of air or gas sandwiched between them. By installing new windows, heat will be trapped and your energy bills will often decrease as a result.

Insulation
An inspection will tell whether your home has enough insulation to properly retain heat. Older homes may not have sufficient amounts of insulation in areas such as the attic and may also need more insulation in outside walls. Newer forms of insulation are more efficient and can retain heat much more effectively. Increasing the amount of insulation in your home can prevent the loss of heat through walls and attics and can make your home much more affordable to heat.

What kind of inspection will you get?
There are different levels of inspections that you can get. At their simplest, inspections can involve having a contractor come into your home and perform a visual inspection. This can alert you to issues such as whether your windows and doors are losing heat and whether there is enough insulation in an attic.

Other inspections can involve more sophisticated technology. Some specialists will be able to take pictures of your home using heat-sensitive imagery to tell where a home is losing heat. By getting a clear view of your home you will be able to tell what improvements need to be made in order to ensure it is as energy efficient as possible.