Modern homes are built more efficiently these days than previous households, but there are still improvements that can be made. Perhaps your furnace is using a little too much power to heat your home in the winter. Or maybe there’s a draft in your home that’s leaking out warm air you’re not aware of. In that case, there’s no need to worry because you can undergo a home energy evaluation (or audit) to determine how much energy you use and where you can make improvements.
We can help you take initiative on your home’s energy efficiency by helping you save on your monthly bills and rewarding you with Enbridge home rebates. They can be achieved by retrofitting old infrastructure in your home or replacing old parts with new parts. To help you better understand the extensiveness of a home energy audit, we’ll go over what the process entails, how often it should be done, how long an audit can take, and why you should ultimately do it for your home.
Free energy grants are available for AC, Furnace, Water Heater, Heat Pumps, Attic Insulation, Basement Insulation and Windows & Doors.
What Is Included In an Energy Audit?
An energy audit for your home basically accounts for the amount it uses and where your home is losing or wasting it. The ultimate goal is to help you identify the causes and make improvements to save more money in the short and long term. It takes everything into account from the number of people in the home to the airflow, lighting, and furnace.
A home energy audit is conducted by a professional auditor who comes into your home to see how energy efficient it is. They’re always on the lookout for ways to save energy and will inspect areas such as walls or rooms with uneven temperatures. An energy audit can tell why your energy bills are so high, whether it’s from your own habits or energy insufficiencies in your HVAC system. It’s essentially an analysis of your behaviour and the best ways to reduce inefficiencies.
Included in the energy audit would be counting the number of rooms in the home and measuring that with who’s in on workdays and living in the residence. The auditor will also examine past energy bills and your personal energy use, in addition to checking your home for air leaks, energy drains, or poor attic insulation. For air leaks specifically, a blower door test is done where a special fan depressurizes your home to locate possible air leaks. A thermographic scan is also performed using infrared cameras to measure surface temperatures and evaluate the efficacy of the insulation.
Taking all these steps and procedures into account, how often should you get an auditor to assess your home’s energy use?
How Often Should An Energy Audit Be Done?
If you find your energy bills to be consistently high each month, it may be a good time to book an energy audit for your home. How often it should be done depends on the age of your home and how long your HVAC or boiler systems have been running. As a general rule, we recommend having an auditor do an assessment every few years to make sure things are operating smoothly and everything is efficient.
The cost of an energy audit also varies by company, but ballpark estimates range around $400.00. Despite this, there are special Enbridge home rebates and incentives that encourage you to install energy-efficient appliances in your home. We’ll show how you can take advantage of those rebates to mitigate the costs associated with an audit.
How Long Does An Energy Assessment Take?
A professional energy auditor can take around 30 minutes to 4 hours to complete a full assessment of your home. This largely depends on the size of your home and the experience of the auditor. That being said, if you can book some time off for a day, the energy audit will be worth it in the end. You’ll find ways to save energy and money from your home and start planning those changes right away.
We’ve gone into the process of a home energy audit and how often you should get one. But, the biggest question left to answer is why you should consider getting one in the first place.
Why Should I Get A Home Energy Audit?
A home energy audit will give you the knowledge to read and understand your energy bill and usage. It gives great insights on what you’re paying for and why spurning you to make better decisions on your home energy spending. It also identifies issues that may be bleeding you money each month and potential solutions to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
An energy audit can also improve your health, safety, and comfort while living in your household. An auditor will check if there’s improper insulation or unwanted moisture that’s causing mould and mildew. For family members with asthma or allergies, an audit can identify the cause and help them take action faster. Moreover, it helps increase your home’s resale value, helping you lure in potential buyers when you’re trying to sell your energy-efficient home in the future.
To get started on saving energy and power for your home, contact Canada Energy Audit today and our team will get in touch right away to find you special rebates and book your next auditor visit.