Undergoing an energy audit conducted by professionals will enable you to identify areas where energy is escaping your home, potentially saving both energy and money in the long run.
Adopting the recommendations in your energy assessment report will increase savings and comfort, so consider scheduling one before embarking on any major renovations and then again some years later.
1. Reduce Your Utility Bills
Paying utility bills is likely among the least favorite tasks of homeowners, yet making energy-efficient upgrades could help lower those bills significantly.
Professional energy audits provided by companies like Colt Home Services can identify areas in a home where air is entering or exiting through drafts, leaky windows, hot or cold spots or drafts and then offer recommendations on how to remedy these problems.
At home improvement companies in your area, they may recommend services such as insulation repair/replace, roofing replacement and energy efficient upgrades, HVAC products to make your system more energy-efficient, or other upgrades that could save money on monthly electricity costs while protecting resale value of home. You could even qualify for rebates and tax credits in your area! These upgrades could save money and time over time – not to mention potential tax credits and rebates available locally!
2. Increase Your Home’s Value
An energy assessment can make your house more appealing to potential buyers, for instance by upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace that could lower heating costs by up to 30% while also qualifying you for federal tax credits.
An energy auditor can conduct a comprehensive examination of your home to identify areas of energy wastage such as air leaks, obsolete appliances and poor insulation – which are all easily addressed through energy audit.
Upgrades that increase energy-efficiency typically pay for themselves within several years, saving both money and reducing fossil fuel reliance, thus lowering carbon footprint. By adopting energy saving methods yourself, you will also set an excellent example to others.
3. Make Your Home More Comfortable
One of the biggest frustrations for homeowners is dealing with sky-high energy bills. A home energy audit can help reduce these bills by identifying areas of wasted energy consumption.
Professional energy assessments provide a thorough assessment of your home, checking insulation levels, air leaks and heating and cooling systems to evaluate. They’ll also inspect appliances like hot water heaters and thermostats to see if they’re operating efficiently.
Professional assessments usually include an infrared scan and blower door test to measure airtightness in your home, as well as upgrades like installing a programmable thermostat or replacing old halogen light bulbs with LED ones; such energy-efficient upgrades often pay for themselves within just a few years through energy savings (1).
4. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
By cutting back on energy usage, we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, thus cutting carbon dioxide emissions and helping the planet. Conducting a home energy audit and making suggested upgrades will increase its resale value by making your property environmentally-friendly.
An energy assessment from a professional can assist in making minor or major improvements that will significantly decrease electricity consumption, such as changing light bulbs, sealing air leaks in doors or windows, adding programmable thermostats, switching to ENERGY STAR appliances and increasing insulation levels.
These changes will save money on energy bills while simultaneously improving indoor air quality by eliminating duct leaks, which reduce dust and allergens entering your living spaces and aggravating conditions like asthma or allergies. It will also decrease HVAC system repair needs.
5. Increase Your Home’s Resale Value
Along with saving money on utility bills, homeowners can also gain from conducting an energy audit and benefiting from an increase in home value. Prospective buyers increasingly favor properties offering green features such as increased insulation or low air emissions; an energy assessment can help your property showcase these features and set it apart from its competition.
An energy audit allows trained professionals to identify and address common sources of energy waste, including uninsulated areas and outdated appliances. Repairs may even pay for themselves in reduced energy costs alone! Furthermore, energy audits often include safety tests on heating and hot water equipment to ensure it operates effectively and removes combustion exhaust safely – an essential step homeowners must take before undertaking air-sealing projects.
6. Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient
Homeowners dislike paying their monthly utility bills, but an energy audit could significantly lower them.
An energy audit begins with an exterior walkaround of your home to assess windows, walls, roofing and more for any obvious air leaks. They’ll then assess heating, cooling and water systems (including ducts and filters) to identify areas requiring improvement and recommend any necessary adjustments.
An energy audit will provide you with a list of cost-effective improvements you can make to your home to save energy costs, with most upgrades paying for themselves within years. Furthermore, energy-efficient homes are in high demand among potential buyers so this may also increase resale value as well as allow you to take advantage of any available local rebates and tax credits.
7. Save Money on Energy-Efficient Appliances
Upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances costs more initially but will save money long term. An energy audit can help determine whether it is worthwhile repairing existing ones or investing in new ones – repairs could save on repair costs while investment might prove more worthwhile in terms of long term savings.
Your auditor can also help identify areas where you’re losing heat or cooling through windows, ductwork or ceilings – from replacing window seals or repairing cracks to more intensive tasks such as installing insulation.
Dependent upon your situation, an energy audit and related upgrades could also include installing a programmable thermostat or upgrading your heating system to further decrease reliance on fossil fuels, reduce energy bills and improve the environment. Most energy audit costs and associated upgrades are usually recovered within several years; making an energy audit an investment that pays dividends!
8. Save Money on Energy-Efficient Lighting
Energy audits can help you uncover ways to save money on lighting costs by improving the efficiency of your building. By investing in energy-saving LED or CFL bulbs, occupancy sensors, and other energy management improvements, energy audits can uncover ways to significantly decrease electricity use and cut your monthly bill significantly.
Installing insulation and air sealing upgrades can also help your business reduce energy use, thus decreasing costs associated with energy costs.
Utility companies frequently offer rebates or tax credits for energy efficiency improvements, making energy audits and implementation of recommendations more cost-effective. Doing this could save your business money on its energy bills while improving sustainability, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions resulting in positive changes to both the environment and community.