DIY energy audits can help
Q: How do I perform an energy audit on my home?
A: An energy audit can be as easy as creating a checklist of improvements based on what you see around your home.
To find opportunities to save energy and money, gather a flashlight, dust mask, tape measure, and cooking thermometer. I recommend taking notes on your phone or a notepad.
First, check the heating and cooling equipment. Determine the age and efficiency of the equipment by looking up the model number on the nameplate. The average lifespan of HVAC equipment varies, depending on the type of equipment and how well it’s maintained. If your equipment is older, it may be time to budget for an upgrade. Check the filter and replace it if needed.
Next, check the envelope of your home — this separates the heated or cooled areas from the exterior. Feel around windows and trim for any drafts. Check under sinks for gaps around pipes. Pay special attention to spots where different building materials come together. Seal with weather stripping, caulk, or expanding foam as needed.
Check for leaking faucets, and make sure aerators and showerheads are high-efficiency models in good condition. The gallons-per-minute ratings should be etched on to them. To reduce wasted energy from using more hot water than needed, aerators should be 0.5 to 1.5 GPM, and showerheads should be no more than 2 GPM.
Look in the attic, while wearing a dust mask, to make sure it’s insulated. Use a cellphone camera with flash to take pictures from the access area. If you go into the attic, use a tape measure to check the depth of the insulation. Typically, it should be a minimum of 12 inches deep, but that varies depending on the type of insulation used.
Insulation can become compacted over time. It should be evenly distributed throughout the attic. Loose fill or blown-in insulation should be fluffy and evenly dispersed. Rolled batt insulation should fit tightly together without gaps.
Exterior walls should be insulated. If your home is older than the 1960s, the walls are probably not insulated. Homes from the 1960s or 1970s likely need more insulation. Wall insulation can be blown in from the inside or the outside of the home. This is a job for a professional.
If you have a basement or crawl space, head there next. Unfinished basements should have insulation on the rim joists, at minimum. This is the area between the top of the foundation and the underside of the home’s first-story floor. Use closed-cell spray foam or a combination of rigid foam and spray foam to insulate rim joists. Crawl spaces should have insulation on the underside of the floor between the floor joists. Insulation should be properly supported in contact with the floor with no air gaps. Water pipes and ductwork should also be insulated.
Once your DIY energy audit is finished, review your findings and prioritize home energy efficiency projects. For step-by-step instructions, visit energy.gov/save.
Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company. She has more than 20 years of experience helping people save energy at home.