energy audit
A typical family living in a three-bedroom, two-storey home, which is built to the current heating code and has electric heating and hot water, spends $2,500 on their total annual electricity bill. Here's how that breaks down:
- Heating: $1,500
- Hot water: $500
- Appliances: $375
- Lighting and other: $125
There are tools to help you better manage your electricity costs. A home energy audit is the first step. It will help you find out how much energy your home consumes and figure out what you can do make it more energy-efficient. In an audit you'll identify:
- Where your house is losing energy
- How efficient your heating and cooling systems are
- Ways to conserve hot water
- And more ...
Keep a log
The most basic way of finding out how your family uses energy is to maintain an energy log, as in the sample below.
This involves reading your electricity meter weekly for a year, and writing down the numbers as in the example above. Subtract the START figure from WK 1 figure to get that week's usage (in the example, the meter has a multiplier of 10 so the reading of 20 must be multiplied by 10 for a total of 200 kWh for Wk 1)
| Week | Meter Read | Calculation |
| Start | 8925 | Start |
| Week 1 | 8945 | 20x10 = 200 kWh |
| Week 2 | 8983 | 38x10 = 380 kWh |
| Week 3 | 9003 | 20x10 = 200 kWh |
| Week 4 | 9021 | 18x10 = 180 kWh |
At the end of four weeks, add up the kWh used each week and divide by the number of days (28) to get your weekly average use. In this case 960/28 - 34 kWh electricity per day
Do It Yourself
You can also conduct your own energy audit by walking around and keeping a checklist of areas you have inspected and problems found. Here are some things to look for:
Air Leaks
Potential energy savings that result from reducing drafts may be as much as 30% per year.
Indoor leaks
- Check for gaps at baseboards and where walls and ceilings join
- Check around electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames and baseboards
- Ensure there are no gaps or cracks in weather-stripping around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches, and air conditioners
- Look for gaps around pipes and wires
- Don't forget mail slots
- Inspect windows and doors. If you can rattle them or see daylight around door and window frames, then you've got leaks
- Check storm windows
Outdoor leaks
- Inspect all areas where two different building materials meet, such as siding and cement foundations
- Check to ensure doors and windows as well as outdoor outlets, pipes and faucets are caulked properly
- Seal cracks in the mortar, foundation or siding
Insulation
Heat loss through the ceiling and walls can be huge.
- Check that the level of insulation in attics and walls is up to current standards
- Ensure there is a vapor barrier (retarder) under the attic insulation
- In an unheated basement , the floor above will need to be insulated
- Water heaters, hot water pipes, and furnace ducts should all be insulated
- Inspect heating and cooling equipment annually
- Check and regularly replace filters on forced air furnaces
Professional Evaluations
In Canada, the EnerGuide for Houses program is a rating system developed by Natural Resources Canada to analyze home comfort and energy performance. Advisors are independent experts in energy efficiency and are affiliated with professional organizations across Canada, who work with Natural Resources Canada to deliver the service in your area, at a reduced cost. There are a number of excellent independent Auditors as well as an EnerGuide for Houses program in this area.
In a professional audit, the auditor will do a room-by-room examination of your home, as well as a thorough examination of past utility bills. He or she may also use equipment to detect sources of energy loss, such as blower doors, infrared cameras, furnace efficiency meters, and surface thermometers.
You can help the process of a professional home audit by listing existing problems such as condensation and uncomfortable or drafty rooms. Also have copies or a summary of your home's yearly energy bills.
Some questions to expect:
- What is the size of the house?
- What is the number and size of windows?
- Is anyone home during working hours?
- What is the average thermostat setting for summer and winter?
- How many people live here?
- Is every room in use all the time?
