A home energy audit performed by a professional is a comprehensive assessment of your household’s energy consumption. The core goal is to identify your energy inefficiencies and assess the degree of waste for each item. That itemization allows you to plan your home maintenance and improvement budgets in a prioritized manner. Let’s explore 13 other benefits you can expect.
1. Lower Utility Bills
One of the most tangible benefits of a home energy audit is lowering your utility bills. Experts often advise homeowners to expect the biggest benefits over the long term. That said, it’s nice to have a reduction in your expenses that you see in the near term. The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that you can save at least 5% monthly and do so right away. As you take further steps to overcome the inefficiencies, the DOE estimates that you can increase those savings upward of 30%.
2. Maximize Property Value
A home energy assessment also gives you the information you need to improve your property value. In fact, many auditors will include information about long-term property value in the report. With this information, you can also prioritize your home improvements based on return on investment. Homebuyers are increasingly emphasizing energy efficiency. Plus, most real estate agents agree that such improvements not only increase sale value significantly but shorten the time on market.
3. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
The average carbon footprint for an American household is 16 tons per year. Through an audit, you’ll find out where you are relative to the average. You can also take steps to lower your output. Your audit report will help with that. It should include measures you can take to lower output by 2.5 tons on average. Your HVAC system will likely be the biggest offender. The savings there can be considerable. You can also reduce output through the use of renewable energy and energy-saving light bulbs.
4. Assess Your Home’s Building Envelope
Building envelope is arguably the most important factor when it comes to energy efficiency. It encompasses the roofing system, exterior walls, insulation, windows, doors, foundation and so forth. Your home may have a tight envelope, which is a good, or a loose one or be somewhere in between. It surprises many homeowners to learn that they’re losing as much as 30% of their heating and cooling through their windows. In that case, a window replacement project could pay for itself.
5. Electrical System Assessment
The assessment of the electrical system is very important as well and particularly for older homes. The National Electric Code (NEC) has evolved greatly in the last 20 years. If your home is older than that, there’s a good chance you have inefficiencies wired into your system. Electricians advise owners of older homes to upgrade to at least a 240-volt electrical panel, which is now required by code. Whole-house surge protection is now code also and can greatly decrease your long-term electrical costs.
6. Water Usage Evaluation
The typical household uses a lot more water than many homeowners expect. Low-flow fixtures are a relatively inexpensive upgrade that can reduce consumption by as much as 60%. These upgrades include low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucets. You may also want to consider a tankless system for your next water heater replacement. It will save water and money over the life of the equipment. If you opt for an audit that includes water testing, you’ll be able to evaluate water filtration and softening. If you have hard water, softening can make a big difference in appliance efficiency and lifespan.
7. Evaluate HVAC Efficiency
The HVAC system is where the average home loses the most energy. The DOE estimates that the typical household wastes about 30% of what it spends on heating and cooling. We’ve already mentioned windows, which is one way that happens. Another is inadequate insulation. A third is ductwork, and your auditor may recommend that you have your ducts resealed. The HVAC equipment itself may be problematic. When it comes time to replace, upgrading to a heat pump can make a big difference.
8. Improve Home Comfort
Whether you have a tight or loose seal makes a notable impact when it comes to home comfort. A loose seal means that you’re losing heating and cooling. You can make up for it to some degree by turning the thermostat up or down further. Still, humidity will be higher in summer, and temperatures will be inconsistent in both winter and summer. Your auditor will also let you know if and where you need new insulation. That upgrade can make a dramatic difference in home comfort as well.
9. Enhance Indoor Air Quality
A loose seal can undermine your indoor air quality (IAQ), but a tight seal presents its own problems. With little to no natural ventilation, indoor air pollution can concentrate. Your auditor may recommend a whole-house fan. Insulation plays a role in IAQ as well. Poor moisture control may be a factor. Your audit may also encourage you to consider a whole-house air purifier, dehumidifier and/or humidifier.
10. Lighting Evaluation
Many households waste a lot of energy on their lightning. If you haven’t already made the switch to LED, your auditor will likely recommend it. You’ll also receive information about the outlets and switches in your home. It may surprise you to learn how much you can save through smart outlets and avoiding phantom loads.
11. Evaluate Appliance Efficiency
Your audit will also include information about all your major appliances. Older appliances use a lot more electricity than people tend to expect. You can use this information to upgrade your appliances in a targeted fashion. You may even opt to replace some appliances proactively if they’re particularly power hungry.
12. Solar Potential Assessment
Have you ever wondered if solar panels are a worthwhile upgrade for your home? Your audit will include the information you need to answer that question. You can then look up prices in your area and determine how long it would take to recoup the investment.
13. Home Energy Audit Tax Credits and Rebates
There are incentives available that can eliminate or at least significantly reduce your home energy audit costs. The federal government offers a Home Energy Audit Tax Credit. It lets you deduct 30% of the total home energy cost up to $150. There are also local rebates available. Many of the rebates offered through utility companies are quite large and may even cover the entire amount. Keep track of your local offers via the DOE website. Take advantage of them to schedule a home energy audit at least every three years.
Energy Efficiency Experts in Navarre and Panama City Beach
If you’d like to schedule a home energy audit, Paradise Home Services is here to help. We serve homeowners throughout Navarre, Panama City Beach and the surrounding areas. Our HVAC team installs and services all types of ducted and ductless cooling and heating systems. We also clean ducts and install programmable and smart thermostats, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, humidifiers and whole-house fans.
Our plumbers clean drains and fix leaks and sewer line problems and other plumbing solutions. We also install new fixtures, tank and tankless water heaters and water softening systems. Contact us today with any questions about these services or to schedule an appointment.
