Do-it-yourself home energy audit: evaluating your needs will put dollars in your pocket

Black Enterprise, Oct, 2008 by Leslie E. Royal

DURING THESE TRYING ECONOMIC times, you're most likely looking for ways to cut costs wherever you can. One way is by reducing the amount of energy you use. The average household spends about $1,900 on energy costs annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A home energy audit can help identify how much energy you're using and what improvements can make your home more energy efficient. Bur if you can't afford to hire an energy auditor, there are plenty of tools on the Web that can assist you with a do-it-yourself audit.

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Completing an energy audit yourself can save you anywhere from $200 to $500 each year. In observance of Energy Awareness Month, we'll show you how to get started.

SURVEY ENERGY USAGE

You can conduct an energy audit online at Home Energy Saver (www.hes.lbl.gov), a Website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. You can also obtain a form from your utility company. Before the audit, you'll have to answer questions about your home, such as the types of appliances used and its square footage. Be sure to have at least one year's worth of utility bills handy, as this information provides a history of your energy usage. Once you've completed the survey, it's time to walk through your home and locate energy drains so you can develop an action plan to address deficiencies.

CHECK FOR AIR LEAKS

Air leaks occur most often around window frames, baseboards, and electrical outlets as well as inside fireplace dampers, basements, and attics. Check these areas for cracks or holes, which when sealed by plugging or caulking can yield energy savings of 5% to 30%, according to Home Energy Saver. "The biggest leaks usually occur in the attic. Duct leakage is also a big culprit in energy losses," says Chandler von Schrader, national manager of Home Performance for ENERGY STAR. A guide to air sealing is available at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (www.eere.energy.gov/consumer), a U.S. Department of Energy Website, under the tab "your home."

LOOK FOR HIDDEN ENERGY DRAINS

Some energy zappers go unnoticed. For example, leaving a cell phone charger or a television plugged in, even when not in use, still uses energy. Another hidden energy drain is lighting, which accounts for about 10% of an electric bill. Switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL), which use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. "The energy improvement with the quickest payback is to replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs," says Richard Brown, research scientist at Home Energy Saver. Also, replace filters on heating and cooling systems. When you make these changes, you'll see a reduction in your energy bill from 15% to 50%.

EXAMINE APPLIANCES

If your appliances are more than 15 years old, it's time for an upgrade. A great way to reduce your energy usage is to purchase energy-efficient appliances, which use 10% to 50% less energy than standard models. "When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay at the store and what you pay for the energy it uses," says Chris Kielich, a press officer for the U.S. Department of Energy. "The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive yet more efficient model."

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