Energy Audit

With utilities bills only going up and up, everyone is looking for ways to use less energy. Turning off the lights when you leave the room or adjusting the thermostat a few degrees are great places to start, but they won’t solve all of your heating and cooling problems. The U.S. Department of Energy says “A home energy assessment, also known as a home energy audit, is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient.” The best thing you can do for your home and your checkbook is taking advantage of a home energy assessment.

The objective of a home energy assessment is to discover how energy is being utilized in your home. It can recognize and remedy wastefulness. It can show you issues that can save you a considerable amount of money over time. With the right answers as to how to use energy efficiently, it’s possible to reduce energy costs and remain comfortable.

After a thorough diagnosis of the way your home uses energy, a certified home advisor will offer solutions. Keep in mind that the assessment itself will not save energy. It’s necessary to take part in the recommended changes and improvements. Your home advisor should provide you with a prioritized list of adaptations you can make to reduce your energy usage. A few changes can save you big bucks in the long run.

Ecohomes

7614 W Lemhi Street

Suite 3

Boise, ID 83709

208-331-4115

Energy Audits

What is a home energy audit? The answer depends on who is doing the audit.
Utility companies often do energy audits for their customers. These energy audits are generally basic in nature. During the audit the utility rep may measure the attic insulation or count the light bulbs. They may do a bit more such as look at efficiency of the furnace or check if the hot water heater has a wrap, but the audit is generally basic without diagnostic tools.

Other energy auditors may use some diagnostic equipment such as thermal imaging camera or they may analyze high utility bills or they may focus on one area such as insulation, air conditioning or heating. These auditors may have a few diagnostic tools and some training but generally do not understand the "whole house".

Another audit is a comprehensive energy audit or a home performance evaluation. Like the name implies, the evaluation is comprehensive. The auditor is usually certified by BPI or RESNET and evaluates the insulation, furnace, hot water heater, cooling equipment, appliances, doors and windows, ducts, combustion safety, utility bill analysis and thermographic scan of the home.

The energy audit that is right for you depends on your own needs. A utility audit is generally free and can provide a homeowner with useful insight to conserve energy. A comprehensive audit is performed by a trained professional and can provide the homeowner with road map to deep energy reductions as well as identify the cause of comfort issues or safety issues. A list of certified Boise energy auditors can be found at the Idaho Office of Energy Resources website.