U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Saver 101 - Home Energy Audit

Energy Saver 101: Home Energy Audits

Take the first step to improving your Home's energy efficiency: get a home energy audit.

What is a home energy audit?

A home energy audit helps you pinpoint where your house is losing energy and what you can do to save money. A home energy auditor will also assess health and safety issues that might exist in your home.

The audit involves two parts: the home assessment and analysis using computer software.

Did You Know?

You could save 5 to 30 percent on your energy bill by making changes identified in your home energy audit.

The Auditor’s Toolbox

Below are some of the tools energy auditors use to inspect a home's energy use.

• Telescoping ladder
  To reach into an attic or up high
• Screwdrivers, pliers and adjustable wrench
  To remove outlet plates and inspect appliances
• 25-foot tape measure
  For making a footprint sketch of the house
• Flashlight and batteries
  To help see behind appliances
• Digital camera
  To help see into hard-to-reach places and document elements of the house
• Pen and paper
  For taking notes
• Infrared camera
  To help determine air leakage and insulation
• Combustion analyzer
  Tool designed to sample flue gases in vented combustion appliances and measure flue gas temperature, leaks, and carbon monoxide
• Blower door
  A large fan that depressurizes the home by sucking air out. This test simulates the effect of a 20-mile-per-hour wind to allow the auditor to find air leaks
• Manometer
  A gauge that measures the differences in pressure in a home to pinpoint leaks and test exhaust devices for proper operation
• Smoke generating device
  Produces a thin stream of smoke or non-toxic fog to help find air and duct leakage
• Watt meter
  Measures the electrical energy used by various devices throughout the home
• Soap bubbles
  Used to confirm fuel leaks in combustion appliances
• Digital probe thermometer
  For testing temperature rise in heating equipment and fan operating temperatures
• Inspection Mirror
  To see into constricted spaces
• Draft gauge
  To test for chimney drafts
• Moisture meter
  Measures moisture level in wood and other materials

The Home Energy Audit Checklist:

Certified home energy auditors should go through the following steps in a hme energy audit.

1. Analyze past years' fuel bills to determine base energy consumption.
2. Interview the homeowner to learn about problems and how the home operates.
3. Explain the audit process.
4. Conduct exterior inspection.
5. Health and safety inspection.
6. Interior visual inspection.
7. Assess electrical system for safety concerns.
8. Combustion appliance inspection.
9. Blower door test.
10. Analyze findings & create a comprehensive home energy report.

Home Energy Audit: What to Look For

• Note the number and location of air registers
• Inspect windows and doors and check for excess window condensation
• Note and test smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
• Check for air leaks around outlets, fixtures, doors, and windows
• Inspect the fireplace
• Note thermostat type and setting
• Check for wall insulation and framing type
• Look for indoor air quality problems and lead-based paint
• Inspect lighting fixtures and recessed lights

Attic

• Inspect insulation
• Check for major air leakage issues in places like chimney bypasses, recessed lighting, and HVAC ducts
• Inspect wiring for safety issues
• Note any signs of water leakage

Basement & Utility Room

• Furnace: Test for fuel leaks, change the furnace filter, clean the furnace blower
• Water heater: Note thermostat setting and insulation on tank and piping; test draft hood
• Perform Combustion Appliance Zone Testing on all combustible fuel fired appliances
• Inspect duct system and dryer venting

Kitchen/Bathroom

• Look for electrical or other hazards
• Assess electrical appliance energy use with a watt meter or manufacturer nameplate
• Check for moisture and excess water vapor
• Assess vent fans for flow rate

What is the Blower Door Test?

A blower door test locates air leaks by using a special fan to depressurize a house. Blower tests are conducted before and after air sealing to measure the effectiveness of the work.

Did you know?

The average home has enough air leakage to add up to a two-foot-square hole. That's like leaving a medium-sized window wide open 24 hours a day.

MYTHBUSTING Infrared Imaging

Infrared cannot see through objects or air.
It can only see temperatures with cold objects appearing darker and warm objects appearing lighter.

Infrared doesn’t see color.
The color is computer generated to make the difference in temperature easier to see to the untrained eye.

Infrared imaging should not be the only tool an energy auditor uses.
When used during a blower door test, infrared imaging is a powerful tool for determining air leaks.