Energy Self Audit Guide

Why do you need an Energy Audit?

Savings

Health

Environment

How to perform an Energy Self Audit?

Estimated Time: 2hrs

Prepare Tools

Download Checklist

Applying an air seal can help achieve energy saving from 10-20% a year.

To Detect

Identifying air leakage involves two approaches:

Taking a visual inventory of potential problem areas, and noting actual air movement. Check to see if the caulking and weather stripping are applied properly, leaving no gaps or cracks, and are in good condition.
Building Pressurization test on cool, windy day (detect air leaks):
- 1. Turn off all combustion appliances (such as gas burning furnaces and water heaters)
- 2. Shut all windows, exterior doors, and fireplace flues.
- 3. Turn on all exhaust fans that blow air outside (such as your clothes dryer, bathroom fans, or stove vents, or use a large window fan)
- 4. Light an incense stick and carefully pass it around the edges of common leak sites. Or, use a damp hand.

To fix

Weatherstripping (preferred for indoor air quality) or caulking

Edges of Potential Leak Locations

Interior:

1. Gaps along the baseboard
2. Edge of the flooring
3. Junctures of the walls and ceiling
4. Windows & doors
5. Lighting
6. Plumbing fixtures
7. Switches
8. Electrical outlet
9. Open fireplace dampers
10. Wall- or window-mounted air conditioners.
11. Attic hatches
12. Where dryer vents pass through walls
13. Vents and fans

Exterior

1. All exterior corners
2. Outdoor water faucets
3. Where siding and chimneys meet
4. Areas where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet.

Heat loss through the floor, ceiling, and walls in your home could be large if the insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum. Given today's and future's high energy prices, the level of insulation might be inadequate, especially if you have an older home.

To Detect

Four main areas to check for insulation levels:

Inspect walls, floors, ceilings
- Look at type of insulation installed
- Look at the thickness of insulation
- Wall insulation is more difficult to inspect. However, you can check the insulation material by removing the cover of a power outlet – just make sure you switch off the circuit breaker first. If your home has a conditioned basement that contains appliances, it should also have proper insulation.
Inspecting Your Attic - check if the attic insulation is in good condition.
- This includes the attic hatch, and any openings for piping, ductwork and chimneys.
- However, the insulation should not block attic vents.
Watch out for moisture.
- Water damage makes insulation less effective
- It stimulates mold growth, and may cause structural damage.
- If there is no vapor barrier under attic insulation, consider painting the interior ceilings with vapor barrier paint.
Unconditioned basement or crawlspace
- Determine whether there is insulation under the living area flooring
- R-value (thermal resistance value) of 25 is the recommended minimum level of insulation
- The insulation at the top of the foundation wall and first floor perimeter should have an R-value of 19 or greater.
- ater heater, hot water pipes, and furnace ducts should all be insulated.

To fix

List of options to improve your home insulation levels

Close the gaps
- Spaces in the insulation can be closed with expanding foam
- Smaller openings can be filled with caulk.
Do It Yourself Resources:
- 10 Ways to Insulate Your Home Without Opening Up Walls

Other Resources

Energy Saver: Insulation

Inspect heating and cooling equipment annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer

To Do

Central Forced Air (ducts in attic, basement and crawl spaces):

Determine when your furnace was last inspected and cleaned. Look for a record of inspections on the side of the equipment.
Check to see if air filters are clean.
If your ductwork runs through unheated spaces (such as an unheated basement or crawlspace), check for insulation and determine its depth and R-Value.

Energy audit and saving tips on Lighting, Home Appliances, HVAC Systems, and Fire Place

Lighting

Upgrading to LED - effective way to cut lighting costs.
For additional savings, you can combine a lighting upgrade with controls like occupancy sensors, dimmers and timers.
Before purchasing new light bulbs, check if the local utility company offers rebates or other incentives.

Home Appliances

Using appliances with the ENERGY STAR label
Activate the energy-saving mode in all devices that have it, and also consider using power strips to disconnect multiple appliances

HVAC

Check and replace the furnace filter
Check ductwork for signs of leaks and seal them
Insulate ducts that pass through the unheated spaces
Consider replacing units that are older than 15 years

Fire Place

With the damper closed, hold a lit candle inside the firebox and watch the flame. If it gets beaten around or blown out, air is flowing up the chimney.

Energy Self Audit Overview

Though not as thorough as professional accessors, you can get a better understanding of your home’s energy potential. When walking through your home, keep a checklist of areas you have inspected and problems you have found.