Save Money & Energy with a Green Savers Energy Audit!

When faced with a high energy bill many people try to lower it by picking a specific improvement such as replacing windows. While this may lower your energy bill it may not be the most cost effective step. Don’t count on the window installation contractor to tell you this; his job is to sell you new windows.

An energy audit is a detailed study of your home or building’s energy use. The audit will study the specific characteristics of your home and estimate the potential savings you should expect from a range of possible improvements. This enables you to spend the least amount of money to get the largest return in savings and increased comfort (and more often than not, replacing your windows isn't the answer).

Many energy auditors follow no particular procedure, but Green Savers follows a detailed protocol called the Home Energy Rating System (HERS). The HERS system consists of two parts. In the first step the auditor conducts a detailed survey of your building, noting such attributes as the amount of insulation in walls, floors and ceilings; the age and efficiency of appliances, heater, and air conditioner; the size and orientation of your windows; square footage and volume; and attributes of your building’s construction and materials. From this data a detailed computer model of your home is created. From this model we can estimate the impact of targeted improvements such as adding insulation, or upgrading your furnace or windows, and tell you approximately how much you might save from each.

The second part of the audit determines how much air leaks into your home, known as its infiltration rate. Infiltration is most frequently the largest contributor to energy loss and is also typically the cheapest to correct. All homes leak; in fact getting some fresh air into your home is recommended by the EPA to maintain healthy indoor air quality. However, excessive levels of infiltration costs you money by allowing your heated (or cooled) air to escape – just like leaving the front door open.

The Green Savers energy audit will measure the level of infiltration and incorporate it into the computer model. We'll then estimate the potential savings you can expect by correcting it. We will also use a thermal camera to identify the places where your home leaks so you can address them. Once you know where your leaks are fixing them can be done by the home owner and often times involves nothing more than a tube of caulk.

Green Savers can help you identify contractors to do the work through our free referral network, or put jobs out for competitive bid. See our green improvement services page for details.

Before you spend thousands of dollars on new windows or appliances make sure you’re getting the return you expect for the lowest investment. Contact Green Savers today for a free consultation on an energy audit for your home or office.

If you are interested in your Green opportunities beyond energy, consider a Green Living Audit. Every Green Savers Green Living Audit includes a full Energy Audit. Learn more about Green Living Audits and the full set of Green Savers services on our Services Page.