GREAT LAKES ENERGY Preparing for an SERVICE Energy Audit Before the energy auditor visits your house, Home Energy Audits Common sense energy plans make a list of any existing problems such as condensation and uncomfortable or drafty A home energy audit is the first step rooms. Have copies or a summary of the to assess how much energy your home's yearly energy bills. (Your utility can home consumes, and to evaluate get these for you.) Auditors use this what measures you can take to information to establish what to look for make your home more energy during the audit. The auditor first examines efficient. An audit will show you the outside of the home to determine the size Home Energy problems that may, when corrected, of the house and its features (i.e., wall area, save you significant amounts of number and size of windows). The auditor money over time. During the audit, Audits then will analyze the residents' behavior: you can pinpoint where your house is losing energy. Audits also Is anyone home during working hours? determine the efficiency of your home's heating and cooling What is the average thermostat setting for systems. An audit may also show summer and winter? you ways to conserve hot water and How many people live here? electricity. You can perform a simple Is every room in use? energy audit yourself, or have a professional energy auditor carry Your answers may help uncover some simple out a more ...
GREAT LAKES ENERGY
Preparing for an
SERVICE
Energy Audit
Before the energy auditor visits your house,
Home Energy Audits
Common sense energy plans
make a list of any existing problems such as
condensation and uncomfortable or drafty
A home energy audit is the first step
rooms. Have copies or a summary of the
to assess how much energy your
home's yearly energy bills. (Your utility can
home consumes, and to evaluate
get these for you.) Auditors use this
what measures you can take to
information to establish what to look for
make your home more energy
during the audit. The auditor first examines
efficient. An audit will show you
the outside of the home to determine the size
Home Energy
problems that may, when corrected,
of the house and its features (i.e., wall area,
save you significant amounts of
number and size of windows). The auditor
money over time. During the audit, Audits
then will analyze the residents' behavior:
you can pinpoint where your house
is losing energy. Audits also
Is anyone home during working hours?
determine the efficiency of your
home's heating and cooling
What is the average thermostat setting for
systems. An audit may also show
summer and winter?
you ways to conserve hot water and
How many people live here?
electricity. You can perform a simple
Is every room in use?
energy audit yourself, or have a
professional energy auditor carry
Your answers may help uncover some simple
out a more thorough audit.
ways to reduce your household's energy
consumption. Walk through your home with
A professional auditor uses a
the auditors as they work, and ask questions.
variety of techniques
They may use equipment to detect sources of
and equipment to
energy loss, such as blower doors, infrared
determine the energy
cameras, furnace efficiency meters, and
efficiency of a
surface thermometers.
structure. Thorough
audits often use
equipment such as
blower doors, which
measure the extent of
GREAT LAKES ENERGY SERVICE
leaks in the building
envelope, and infrared
cameras, which reveal hard-to-
detect areas of air infiltration and
missing insulation.
Call 517.669.5389 to schedule your
Tel: 517.669.5389
Phone: 517.669.5389
audit today!
www.greatlakesenergyservice.org After the Audit
You can reduce your home's heating and
Upgrade inefficient windows
Home Insulation
cooling costs through proper insulation and
and doors
Your primary defense against heat loss
air sealing techniques. These techniques will
About one-third of the home's total
through the house envelope is
also make your home more comfortable. Any
heat loss usually occurs through
insulation. If there isn't any insulation,
air sealing efforts will complement your
windows and doors. If your existing
the best option is to bring in an
insulation efforts, and vice versa. Proper have rotted or damaged wood,
insulation contractor to blow cellulose
moisture control and ventilation strategies will
cracked glass, missing putty, poorly
improve the effectiveness of air sealing and or fiberglass into the walls.
fitting sashes, or locks that don't work,
insulation, and vice versa. Therefore, a
Adding insulation to an unheated
you may be better off replacing them.
home's energy efficiency depends on a
attic is usually a lot easier than
balance between all of these elements: Air
Windows in generally good
adding to existing walls. If there is
sealing, Insulation, Moisture control, and
condition: Probably more
no floor in the attic, simply add
Ventilation.
cost-effective to increase
more insulation, either loose fill or
their efficiency by
unfaced fiberglass batts.
A proper balance between all of these
weather-stripping, caulk-
elements will also result in a more comfort-
If the basement or
ing, and fitting them with
able, healthier home environment.
crawl space is un-
storm panels rather than
heated, insulate be-
undergo the expense of
tween the floor joists
Find and seal air leaks
window replacement.
instead of around the
Increase window
perimeter walls.
Hidden air leaks cause
Check and seal
energy efficiency by
some of the largest heat If the basement is
installing insulating
your windows and
losses in older homes.
heated and used, you need to insu-
curtains or drapes on
doors
Common air leakage
late the basement walls instead.
the interior.
sites
When replacing
include:
your home’s windows,
Sealing Options
buy new high
Caulk is best for cracks and gaps less
Plumbing penetrations through
performance models.
than about 1/4" wide.
insulated floors and ceilings Look for the National
Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
Expanding foam sealant is an excel-
Chimney penetrations through insu-
label and choose a product with
lent material to use for sealing larger
lated ceilings and exterior walls
U-factor of 0.40 or less, Solar Heat
cracks and holes that are protected
Fireplace dampers Gain Coefficient of 0.40 or less, and
from sunlight and moisture.
Visible Light Transmittance of 0.60 or
Attic access hatches
Use rigid foam insulation for sealing
higher.
very large openings such as plumbing
Recessed lights and fans in insulated
Make sure doors are in good shape.
chases and attic hatch covers.
ceilings
Weatherstrip around the whole perimeter
Fiberglass insulation can also be used
Wiring penetrations through insulated
to ensure a tight seal when closed.
for sealing large holes, but it will work
floors, ceilings, and walls
Install quality door sweeps on the
better if wrapped in plastic or stuffed
bottom of the doors if needed.
Missing plaster
in plastic bags.
Electrical outlets and switches,
Specialized materials such as metal
especially on exterior walls
flashing and high-temperature silicone
sealants may be required for seal-
Window, door, and baseboard
ing around chimneys and flue pipes.
moldings