How much do home energy assessments cost?

What is a home energy audit?

How long will an energy audit take?

What does an energy auditor look at?

• Measure the windows, floor space and insulation.

• Record the type and age of heating and cooling appliances and water heaters.

• Look at the condition of the ductwork and heating and cooling / HVAC units.

• Look in the attic, basements, crawl spaces and any other naturally drafty areas of your home, as well as look at ceiling heights.

• Inspect your chimney, another area where air leakage can occur.

• Check doors for air leaks and quality of insulation.

• Inspect major appliances, lighting systems and exhaust fans that could be using less energy.

• Do a visual inspection of your home's exterior walls.

• Search for places where climate controlled indoor air could be leaking out, or outdoor air could be getting in.

Additional home energy tests

• Blower door test. To conduct a blower door test, the inspector will put a fan in the main entry door to suck air out of the house. While it's running, they'll go from room to room looking for air leaks in walls, windows, roofs, ducts and elsewhere.

• Infrared scanning. This is also called a thermographic inspection. The inspector will point an infrared scanner at problem areas of your house to look for temperature variations on exterior walls, which could mean air leakage due to poor insulation.

• Ambient CO testing. The inspector will use a meter to detect the presence of carbon monoxide in the living areas of your house. A higher than normal level of carbon monoxide could be an indication of a malfunctioning gas-burning appliance -- which is both unsafe and wastes energy.

• Duct leak testing. This is also called Duck Blaster ® testing. The auditor attaches a fan to the duct system and measures for air leaks in the duct, which could impact how efficient your HVAC system is.

• Worst case depressurization testing. The auditor will check to see that all vented combustion appliances – gas and fuel oil water heaters, furnaces, boilers and fireplaces – are working properly and not allowing a backdraft.

• Spillage testing. The auditor will check to see that the chimney flue is working so that your home ventilation system doesn't pull toxic gases into your house.

• Heating appliance CO test. This test checks each gas appliance for carbon monoxide leaks. Unlike an Ambient CO testing, this one checks specific appliances, not the whole house.

• Oven test. The inspector will check ovens and stoves to be sure they are working properly and not using more energy than necessary.

What happens after the energy audit?

• Replace your windows: You might want to consider replacing your current windows with better-insulated models.

• Switch to a tankless water heater: This style of water heater produces hot water on demand, instead of using energy to maintain hot water in a tank.

• Opt for energy-efficient appliances: Old appliances are considered inefficient by today's standards. Switching to modern, less energy intensive models will contribute to energy savings throughout the year.

• Install a smart thermostat: You can lower the heat or AC when no one's at home, or have the thermostat automatically alter the temperature to save energy while adhering to your preferences.

How to hire a professional home energy auditor

• Look for a certified inspector: Ideally, your auditor will have HERS (Home Energy Rating System) or BPI (Building Performance Institute) certification.

• Get multiple free estimates: Knowing a general range for your energy audit cost will give you the confidence to hire a pro that's not over- or under-charging.