Energy Audits – The Costs and Benefits

Energy audits should be done annually, but what are the costs and benefits?  Homes are meant to breathe, but some homes inhale a little too much from the outdoors and exhale it inside our homes. 

Drafty rooms, leaky and dirty air ducts, high utility bills, and large carbon footprints are the result of too much outdoor air coming into the home.  So, when you believe your home could be more energy efficient, you should perform an energy audit.  An energy audit can diagnose your energy issues and help you tackle the problems head on.

When your budget gets in the way, you can always opt for inexpensive fixes like extra insulation or caulk at leaking points.  But, there is always the question of whether to hire a pro or not.  Therefore, I have the pros and cons of do-it-yourself energy audits.

Paying a Professional

A professional audit is not cheap.  They will run from $150 to $600 for a diagnostic.  However, the information that professional gives will help you target repairs that will lower your energy bills by 5% to 30% annually.  When your utility bills average $2,200 annually, that can be a $600 annual savings.

DIY Audits

When you perform a do-it-yourself audit, you may help the situation by guessing how airtight your home is or is not.  A typical DIY test consists of holding up a lit candle to windows, electrical outlets and doors to see if the flame blows out.  You should always insulate the areas that need them with caulk, weather stripping or insulation.

Just remember, when you do a home energy audit yourself, you may not find the leading cause of your wasted energy.  A professional audit will have the highest impact over time, making it worth your time and money.