Cooperative Living July 2020 - 28

EnergySense | by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen, Contributing Writers
A blower door test measures
air leakage in your home.
A contractor seals
ductwork with duct mastic.
An energy auditor inspects insulation
in the attic of a single-family home.
The Kind of Audit You Actually Want
A professional look at your energy habits can save a few bucks
Dear Pat and Brad: I need to
reduce my energy costs and don't
know where to start. You often
recommend a home energy audit.
What will an audit tell me?
- Jacob
It's possible to conduct your own
energy audit using a website or app,
and that's not a bad idea if you want to
minimize interpersonal contact because
of the pandemic. Still, a comprehensive,
in-person energy audit provides much
more information.
Typically, you have two options
when it comes to an energy audit.
The least expensive is a home energy
survey, sometimes referred to as a
" walk-through " audit. Essentially, it's
a visual inspection. If you have modest
goals about what you want to learn from
an energy audit, and if you are fortunate
enough to find an experienced and
knowledgeable professional, this type
of audit might meet your needs.
The second, more comprehensive
energy audit requires more time and
utilizes several diagnostic tools. The
average cost for this type of audit is about
$400. Check with your local electric
cooperative to see if it offers energy
audits or provide a discount or rebate.
26 | Cooperative Living | July 2020
Dear Jacob: A home energy audit is the perfect place to start
if you want to reduce your energy bills or make your home more
comfortable. An audit can also help you decide whether to invest
in a new energy source like a solar array, a new heating and cooling
system like a heat pump, or whether it's time to upgrade your
current system.
A comprehensive energy audit
will look at four main areas.
NUMBER ONE
1
The first is the envelope of your
home, which includes all the places
where the exterior and interior meet --
roof, walls, doors, windows and
foundation. Auditors use a blower
door test, which employs a powerful
fan mounted in an exterior door frame
and that de-pressurizes the home.
The auditors can then identify how
well-sealed your home is and locate
any air leaks.
Some auditors will work with you
to seal leaks and continue to take
blower door readings as the home is
tightened up.
Another tool auditors will use to
look at your building envelope is a
thermal imaging camera, which
shows hot and cold spots that pinpoint
exactly where insulation is needed
in walls and ceilings.
NUMBER TWO
2
The second focus of the audit is your
home's HVAC system and water heater to
see how efficient they are and whether
they should be replaced. If your home has
air ducts, the auditor can conduct a duct
blaster test to see if your ducts are properly
sealed. Ducts located in unheated areas
are often a major source of energy loss.
NUMBER THREE
3
The third area is other energy end use,
such as lighting, appliances and other
plugged-in devices. Auditors might suggest
steps like energy-efficient lighting or a
smart thermostat.
NUMBER FOUR
4
The fourth area included in a comprehensive
energy audit is health and safety.
Does your home have the correct number
and placement of smoke alarms and
carbon monoxide detectors? Should your
basement be tested for radon emissions?
Be sure you get answers to these questions.
co-opliving.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF AIRTIGHT JUNKIES
PHOTO COURTESY OF 60i MEDIA PRODUCTIONS
PHOTO COURTESY OF RESOURCE MEDIA
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living July 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living July 2020
