Energy audits not only save money, but they eliminate un-neccessary energy consumption, yet many consumers still remain in the dark about this technical advantage.
What Are Energy Audits and Why Is Everyone Talking About Them?
In 95% of cases, energy audits result in savings. Quite frankly, the energy consumption in our homes, businesses, and industries is greater than necessary, yet consumers tend to place a great deal of trust in utility companies.
• A utility company charged a homeowner more than $10,000, over the period of 25 years for nearby streetlights.
• More than 450,000 California utility customers were over-charged, after the installation of electric meters
Consumers are generally unaware of billing errors, and when discovered, utility companies require official proof. Energy audits help to uncover these problems, and more often than not, until a homeowner request a professional audit to disclose hidden errors; the utility company continues their erroneous billing.
Additionally, by applying saving measures, recommended after an energy audit, homeowners are able to reduce consumption by a considerable percentage, without reducing any comfort.
Ask most utility bill auditors and anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of utility bills contain hidden errors. Once a neglected practice, today, detailed energy reviews are resulting in better efficiency and control.
Home Energy Audits Result in Efficiency
Fiscal worries tend to be at the top of most lists these days, and finding areas to save more and spend less is certainly a standout issue. More and more people are examining and questioning their bills and looking to receive a clearer picture of exactly what they are paying for.
1. Locate your air leaks
Depending on the age of your home, you could save up to 30% annually on your energy bills by simply reducing drafts. Air currents are found in many places, including windows, doors, chimneys, attic doors, and even power outlets.
2. Discover your insulation needs
Over time, insulation settles leaving you with less than the required minimum? Do you have spaces in the attic? Do you have R-value recommended insulation installed in your walls? A specialized inspection, commonly known as a thermo-graphic inspection, can tell if the walls meet minimum requirements and are properly insulated, and if they have been properly isolated, and if the insulation has settled in some areas, leaving you with air currents in those spaces.
3. Consider retrofitting your lights
While walking around the house check the lighting. Having the right bulbs for the right rooms can make a difference. For example, 60 watt bulbs are more suitable than a 100-watt bulb in low-traffic areas and those not used for reading. You should also take advantage of the daylight and use light sources, like lamps, only when necessary. For additional savings, install automatic lighting controls to turn off lights when no one is in a room.
Examining and Questioning Energy Consumption
Until very recently, the detailed study of energy costs was not a priority for many homeowners, companies, department stores and other facilities, but in recent years, due to the considerable increase of energy costs, on average are up 60 %, the management of resources and energy consumption is an important issue.
Auditing a home’s energy consumption continues to be a popular approach to saving money and eliminating unnecessary waste.
