A First Step Toward Being "Green"
February 27, 2008
If you are a homeowner and you want to reduce your energy usage, a first step could be to contact the utility company that provides the fuel for your primary heating source. Most of these utility companies will provide an energy audit service. An auditor will come to your home and conduct a thorough inspection of a number of different areas and make a determination of the amount of heat your house is losing. Typically this inspection service is without cost to the homeowner.
A first concern of the inspector will be your insulation. What type do your have, how deep is it, how much of the attic floor does it cover and the condition of the insulation. Wall insulation coverage will also be determined as much as is possible without tearing into the wall. Removal of an electric outlet plate sometimes will allow the inspector to note the insulation in the wall.
A second concern is "air infiltration" - how much air leaks into the house and how much air (heat) leaks out of the house.
Thirdly, the auditor will check your heating and cooling systems. They will check the type, the age, the efficiency and the general condition. They will also check the ducting as ducts, over time, can sag, pull apart at their joints and seals and are often found to be inadequate for the square footage of the home.
An auditor will also check your thermostat for accuracy and for the type of settings that are available to you.
The auditor's inspection will also check lighting types and water heating equipment.
All the data will be entered into a computer program to isolate where the biggest potential energy savings are. You will receive a list of recommendations and perhaps what the potential payback of the more costly recommendations might be.
If you are a homeowner and you want to reduce your energy usage, a first step could be to contact the utility company that provides the fuel for your primary heating source. Most of these utility companies will provide an energy audit service. An auditor will come to your home and conduct a thorough inspection of a number of different areas and make a determination of the amount of heat your house is losing. Typically this inspection service is without cost to the homeowner.
A first concern of the inspector will be your insulation. What type do your have, how deep is it, how much of the attic floor does it cover and the condition of the insulation. Wall insulation coverage will also be determined as much as is possible without tearing into the wall. Removal of an electric outlet plate sometimes will allow the inspector to note the insulation in the wall.
A second concern is "air infiltration" - how much air leaks into the house and how much air (heat) leaks out of the house.
Thirdly, the auditor will check your heating and cooling systems. They will check the type, the age, the efficiency and the general condition. They will also check the ducting as ducts, over time, can sag, pull apart at their joints and seals and are often found to be inadequate for the square footage of the home.
An auditor will also check your thermostat for accuracy and for the type of settings that are available to you.
The auditor's inspection will also check lighting types and water heating equipment.
All the data will be entered into a computer program to isolate where the biggest potential energy savings are. You will receive a list of recommendations and perhaps what the potential payback of the more costly recommendations might be.
posted by shirley harry at 7:54 AM
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