Energy Audits

Do I Need an Energy Audit?

A professional energy audit identifies key problem areas in your home and how to fix them. Fixing these areas can reduce your energy bills and create a safer, more comfortable living environment. If you have experienced any of the following issues in your home, you may benefit from an energy efficiency audit:

• High energy bills
• Drafty rooms and windows
• High levels of dust
• Some rooms are warmer/colder than others
• Dry indoor air in the winter
• Cold floors in the winter
• Exterior paint peeling
• Moisture on your windows
• Your heating/cooling system is constantly turning on and off

A Comprehensive Look at Your Home

Rather than focusing on a single problem, such as an outdated heating or cooling system, inadequate insulation, or drafty rooms, an energy audit can determine how improvements throughout your home can work together to improve your comfort, lower your energy use, and ensure you’ve made the most energy efficient improvements. An energy audit starts with a brief interview to discuss your concerns and noticed problem areas. Then the auditor will explore elements and areas around your home such as:

• Attic and insulation inspection
• Interior examination
• Blower door and thermal imaging tests
• Basement and crawl space inspection
• Moisture and humidity testing

Following the energy efficiency audit, we will provide a recommended plan of action to remedy issues found during the audit.

Ways to Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

In addition to the specific plan for your home, commonly recommended improvements for an energy efficient home include:

Sealing air leaks and adding insulation – Along with sealing air leaks, which may be allowing cold or hot air to escape or penetrate your home’s envelope, we may recommend insulation. Many older homes are poorly insulated, and some have no insulation at all. Properly installed insulation in attics, walls, and floors provides more even temperatures throughout the house and results in a quieter, more comfortable living environment that is less costly to heat and cool.

Sealing and insulating ductwork – Regardless of the thermostat setting, many homes have leaky ductwork and poor airflow which can result in uncomfortable rooms. We may recommend sealing your home’s HVAC ducts with an air duct sealant and balancing the duct system to optimize airflow to all rooms. Insulating ductwork in attics and crawl spaces also can reduce energy usage and increase your home’s overall comfort.

Improving heating and cooling systems – Heating and cooling your home can account for up to 50% of your home’s energy use. If your heat pump, furnace, or air conditioner is more than ten years old, we may recommend replacing it with a unit that is ENERGY STAR qualified and properly sized. Installed correctly, high efficiency units can save on heating and cooling costs. Such a unit will make your home more comfortable year-round by providing more consistent temperatures and better humidity control regardless of changing outdoor temperatures.

Fixing your combustion equipment – We will also test the combustion equipment in your home, such as your furnace and water heater, to ensure they operate and vent properly. If issues are uncovered, we will recommend repair or replacement. If applicable, we will conduct a carbon monoxide reading on ovens and other areas to further test the safety of your home.

Upgrading lighting and appliances – Energy used for lighting and appliances can account for up to 25% of your home’s total energy consumption. As a result, we may recommend ENERGY STAR qualified products such as refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, room air conditioners, and compact fluorescent light bulbs. An energy efficient hot water heating system may also be recommended.

Baltimore, MD Residents – Contact Us Today

Googling “energy audits near me”? Let us help! All of our energy audit services are performed by independent professions. Contact us for assistance. We will help you schedule your home’s energy audit in Baltimore, MD, allowing you to get better energy efficiency, a more comfortable home, and lower energy bills.