An energy audit is an assessment or an evaluation of a home's energy efficiency. An audit will identify specific areas of a home that can be improved in order to increase energy efficiency. An energy audit will often prioritize cost effective measures that will provide the greatest energy savings. In addition, an audit will often identify specific behaviors that the home's occupants may perform in order to increase and maintain efficiency and conserve energy (such as thermostat settings, filter changes, etc.).
There are a number of different kinds of home energy audits. Some audits involve detailed testing performed by trained home energy raters or auditors that may include blower door testing (to determine home air leakage); an evaluation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system; an investigation of the home's insulation and building envelope; and an inspection of the home's appliances. They may also include thermal imaging to determine air leakage, insulation voids, and moisture problems.
Less complicated audits include those that can be performed by a homeowner or tenant and can be found on the internet. One example is the Home Energy Saver available at http://hes.lbl.gov/. To spend your weatherization/home energy conservation dollars wisely, an energy audit is a good investment and may be a free service from your utility company. If your income is less than 200% above the poverty level, you might qualify for low-income weatherization assistance. An energy audit can be conducted on your home to determine weatherization priorities free of charge. For information on the U.S. Department of Energy's Guidelines for Weatherization, visit DOE Weatherization Information
