No matter who is giving the advice, one of the most recommended ways to conserve energy and lower your bills is performing an energy audit on your home. A home energy audit will pinpoint the areas of your house that use the most energy and suggest the most effective measures for cutting your energy costs. It can be as easy as conducting a simple home energy audit yourself and contacting your local utility for tips and advice, or you can take it a step further by investing in an independent energy auditor for a more comprehensive examination.
Get a head start on your audit by visiting the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Web site to take advantage of a wealth of tools and tips. They have a section dedicated to do-it-yourself audits and advice on what to look for if you decide to have a professional home energy audit. You can also evaluate your energy use with a variety of energy calculators.
Energy Auditing Tips
Here are just a few of the great tips suggested by EERE:
- Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors and crawl spaces.
- Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home.
- Check for open fireplace dampers.
- Make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained. Check your owner's manuals for the recommended maintenance.
- Study your family's lighting needs and use patterns, paying special attention to high-use areas such as the living room, kitchen and outside lighting. Look for ways to use lighting controls—like occupancy sensors, dimmers or timers—to reduce lighting energy use, and replace standard (also called incandescent) light bulbs and fixtures with compact or standard fluorescent lamps.
For more information on saving money by reducing your energy bills, check out all of our energy saving tips.
