An energy audit is an inspection of your home that uses building science to analyze many factors that affect the energy use, safety, and comfort of your home. The findings can help you determine the best way to solve problems including:
- High utility bills
- Rooms or areas of the house that are too cold in the winter and hot in the summer
- Condensation on the windows or walls
- Mold or mildew problems
- Allergies and asthma made worse by poor indoor air quality
- Too many bugs, especially in certain areas of the house
- Electricity usage is too high for renewable energy options
- Deciding whether you need new windows, more insulation, new furnace or air conditioner, etc.
- Making your home more marketable when you’re ready to sell
- Planning to remodel or build a new house
- Concerns about old equipment leaking low levels of carbon monoxide or gas
- Lots of static electricity in the winter
- Furnace always seems to be running (or always needing a space heater)
- Dehumidifier never turns off
- Smells from the attic, garage, or fireplace
- Noise from outside
- Concerned about your home’s environmental impact
If any of these problems resonate with you, it’s time for an energy audit. EverGreen Home Energy offers independent services to help your home feel more comfortable. We don’t sell windows or insulation or HVAC systems. But we can tell you which of those, if any, will make the biggest impact for you.
How Does an Energy Audit Work?
- Insulation
- Heating and cooling systems
- Water heater
- Exhaust fans
- Water leaks
- Windows
- Lighting
- Appliances
- Air leakage
- Attics and crawlspaces
- Attached garages
- Safety concerns
During the inspection your energy auditor will be able to determine what is going on with your home and formulate a list of recommendations based on the safety concerns and most effective changes that can affect the comfort and efficiency of your home. See what the Comprehensive Energy Audit performed by EverGreen Home Energy entails.
What Will I Learn From My Energy Audit?
You will receive a comprehensive report following the audit that contains the details you need to make strategic decisions for your home. Your recommendations are prioritized with safety, efficiency, and cost effectiveness in mind. This report will help you with things like:
- Should I install new windows or insulation or a new furnace? And which should I do first?
- Is my furnace or water heater leaking carbon monoxide even though I have a co detector?
- Is my home leaking air or is it too tight? (According to Energy.gov, “The average home has enough air leakage to add up to a two-foot square hole. That’s like leaving a medium-sized window open 24 hours a day.”)
- Are my exhaust fans effectively removing moisture from house to avoid mold and mildew problems?
- Is the air flowing through the duct work and registers effectively throughout the house?
- Why is my basement always getting flooded?
- Am I eligible for incentives from my utility company?
For example,
- Upgrading a furnace may not be the answer when the problem is with poor air flow or a lack of insulation
- Mitigating a mold issue without eliminating the source of the water will only allow the mold to reappear down the road
- If you install an overpowering exhaust fan for the new oven in the kitchen, it may backdraft the water heater down in the basement.
Want to know more about what the report covers? Click here.
Make Your Home More Comfortable!
And safe, healthy, and efficient! Call (309) 253-2242 to schedule your energy audit.
