Energy Audits Lower Your Bills!

With the economy in such a turmoil, everyone is scrambling to lower utility bills. Utility bills represent a large portion of a monthly budget. Simple changes in what we do, can result in big money and energy savings Oregon.

One of the first steps you should take to reduce your utility bills is to have a household energy audit Oregon done. This audit is often done at no charge by your utility company, or a professional auditor can be hired to do the job. An inspection of your entire home can identify areas where energy is being wasted. Knowing what type of changes can be made, can result in significant savings in the future.

Auditing Insulation

One of the biggest areas where energy is wasted, is in home insulation. Older homes especially lack proper wall and attic insulation.

Auditing your insulation will require evaluating several factors that are unique to your household, and contribute to the energy usage. Homes in cold areas require different types of insulation than homes in warmer climates. Having the proper insulation will result in lower heating and cooling costs. A professional will be able to determine the proper type and amount of insulation you require.

Auditing Doors and Windows

Doors and windows are often an area where there is a large amount of energy leakage. Replacement of leaky, inefficient windows may be expensive, but long term savings can be significant. Your heating and cooling systems will operate much more efficiently if all the leaks in the doors and windows are sealed properly.

Checking for leaks can be done by simply feeling the temperature outside the doors and window, or you can hire a professional to do a thorough check. Crawlspaces and basements also need to be checked for energy leakage.

Auditing the Attics

Attics play a huge role in your heating and cooling bills. Inadequate ventilation and improper insulation can result in higher bills.

Always check to be sure there are no holes in ceilings that could cause air leakage from the interior of the home into the attic. Sealing any holes with reduce your energy consumption significantly.

Hiring a professional energy auditor is a good investment. They will be able to tell you whether fiberglass or foam insulation is a better choice to increase the R factor in your attc.

Auditing Your Fireplace

In recent years, fireplaces have become common in modern homes, especially in the northern climates. The problem with fireplaces is that they allow a large amount of heat loss when not in use. If not sealed properly, heating and air conditioning energy escapes through the chimney. The flue must be properly closed when the fireplace is not in use, so heating and air conditioning cannot escape.