DIY Home Energy Audit: A Complete Guide to Improving Home Efficiency
DIY Home Energy Audit: A Complete Guide to Improving Home Efficiency
Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes
Key Takeaways
A DIY home energy audit helps identify where your home is wasting energy, enabling you to save money and reduce your environmental impact.
Key benefits include lower utility bills, increased home comfort, and a reduced carbon footprint.
This guide provides step-by-step instructions for checking insulation, air leaks, HVAC systems, appliances, lighting, and water heating.
Simple, low-cost fixes like sealing leaks and changing light bulbs often have a quick payback period and significantly improve home efficiency.
Technology like smart meters and thermal imaging can enhance your DIY audit, but basic observation is still very effective.
DIY Home Energy Audit
Navigate to What Matters
Are your energy bills climbing higher each month? Do you worry about your home’s impact on the environment? High energy use doesn’t just hurt your wallet; it also contributes to environmental concerns. Improving your home energyefficiency is key to solving both problems. For more ideas on making your home efficient, see our Smart Living Guide.
A DIY home energy audit is a great place to start. It’s a careful check-up you do yourself to find where your home is wasting energy. Think of it like a detective hunt for energy leaks and lazy appliances. You don’t need to be an expert to do it!
“Completing a DIY home energy audit empowers you to take control of your energy use and comfort.”
Completing a DIY home energy audit offers great benefits. You can:
Save money on your heating and cooling bills.
Make your home more comfortable year-round.
Reduce your carbon footprint, helping the planet.
This guide gives you easy, step-by-step instructions for your own energy audit. You can follow these steps without hiring a professional, empowering you to improve your home efficiency. We’ll cover everything from preparing for your audit to finding leaks, checking insulation, evaluating appliances, and creating a plan to fix problems. Let’s get started on making your home more energy-smart!
Understanding Home Energy Audits for Home Energy Savings
An energy audit is a full look at how your house uses energy. Its main job is to find where your home is losing heat in the winter or cool air in the summer. It helps spot problems that make your home energy bills higher than they need to be.
There are two main types of energy audits:
Professional Energy Audits: These are done by trained experts. They use special tools like blower doors (to measure air leaks) and infrared cameras (to see heat loss). These audits are very detailed but cost money.
DIY Energy Audits: This is the type you do yourself! It’s much cheaper (often free) and uses simple tools and observation. A DIYenergy audit lets you find many common energy problems and understand your home better.
You might be surprised how much you can find yourself. Research suggests that a careful DIY audit can spot up to 60% of the efficiency issues in a typical home.
“Taking the time to do regular DIY home energy audits can lead to real savings. Homeowners often see a 5% to 30% reduction in their utility bills…”
This makes improving home efficiency a smart investment.
Good preparation makes your DIY home energy audit much easier and more accurate. Taking a little time upfront helps you gather the right information and tools for a successful energy assessment.
Here’s a list of things you’ll need:
Your Utility Bills: Gather your electricity and gas bills from the last 12 months. This helps you see how much home energy you use now and track savings later.
Digital Thermometer: Useful for checking temperatures in different rooms and near vents.
Flashlight: Essential for looking in dark corners like attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
Notebook or Tablet: To write down your findings, measurements, and problem areas.
Incense Stick or Smoke Pencil: A simple tool to help see air drafts and leaks.
Smart Meter Data: If you have a smart meter, check if you can access your detailed usage data online or through an app. This provides valuable insights into your home energy patterns.
Thermal Camera (Optional): A smartphone attachment or a basic thermal camera can significantly help visualize heat loss through thermography, but it’s not essential for a basic audit.
You should also:
Map Your Home: Draw a simple floor plan of your house or use an existing one. Mark the locations of windows, doors, vents, and any areas you suspect are problems during your energy audit.
Choose the Right Time: Plan your audit during very cold or very hot weather. This is when the temperature difference between inside and outside is greatest, making heat loss or gain (and air leaks) much easier to spot, maximizing efficiency detection. Good home efficiency means keeping the inside temperature stable.
Understand Your Bills: Look at your past bills to find your baseline home energy use. Note the highest and lowest usage months. This data is your starting point for measuring improvement.
Step-by-Step DIY Home Energy Audit Process
Now that you’re prepared, let’s walk through the steps of conducting your DIY energy audit. We’ll break it down section by section.
Exterior Inspection for Energy Audit Insights
Start your DIYenergy audit by walking around the outside of your house. Look carefully at these areas:
Roof: Check the condition of your shingles or roofing material. Are there damaged or missing pieces? Note the color too. Dark roofs soak up more heat from the sun, while light-colored roofs reflect it.
Walls: Inspect exterior walls for any cracks, holes, or gaps, especially where different materials meet (like siding and brick) or where pipes and wires enter the house.
Foundation: Look for cracks or gaps in the foundation walls. Problems here can let in cold air and moisture, affecting your home’s energy performance.
Using Thermography Outside:
If you have a thermal camera, use it during your exterior walk-around, especially on a cold day. Look for bright spots (usually yellow, orange, or red) on the walls, roof, and around windows and doors. These warmer signatures show where heat is escaping from inside your home. This use of thermography provides visual proof of efficiency issues.
“Remember, a significant amount of energy waste can happen through the building envelope. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, up to 35% of a home’s heat loss can occur through walls, windows, and doors.”
Finding these outdoor issues is a key part of your audit.
Proper insulation acts like a blanket for your home, keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer. Checking your insulation levels is crucial for home efficiency. Here’s where and how to look:
Attic: This is often the easiest place to check and add insulation. Look across the attic floor. Can you see the tops of the wooden joists? If so, you likely need more insulation. Measure the depth of the existing insulation.
Walls: Checking wall insulation is trickier. You can sometimes get a peek by carefully removing electrical outlet covers or switch plates (turn off the power first!). Use a flashlight to see if insulation is present. Thermography can also help identify poorly insulated wall sections from the inside or outside.
Basement/Crawlspace: Look at the walls of your basement or crawlspace. If it’s unheated, insulation should ideally be in the ceiling (under the floor of the room above). Also check the “rim joist” – the wooden structure where the house frame rests on the foundation. This area is often poorly insulated.
Floors: Check insulation under floors that are above unheated spaces like garages or crawlspaces.
Identifying Problems:
Visual Check: Look for insulation that is compressed, wet, moldy, or unevenly distributed. Gaps or thin spots reduce effectiveness.
Thermography: A thermal camera makes spotting insulation problems easy. Cold spots on interior walls in winter (or hot spots in summer) often indicate missing or inadequate insulation, impacting home efficiency.
R-Value Recommendations:
Insulation effectiveness is measured by its R-value – the higher the number, the better it resists heat flow. Recommendations vary by climate zone, but general targets for optimal efficiency are:
Attic: R-38 to R-60
Walls: R-13 to R-21 (depending on construction)
Floors/Crawlspaces: R-19 to R-30
“Adding proper insulation is a major step towards better home efficiency. It can reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to 20%.”
Air leaks are like hidden open windows, letting conditioned air escape and outdoor air sneak in. Finding and sealing these leaks is one of the fastest ways to improve comfort and save energy during your DIYenergy audit.
Here’s how to hunt for drafts:
Visual Inspection: Look for obvious gaps and cracks around window and door frames, where walls meet floors or ceilings, around pipes or wires entering the house, and near chimneys or vents.
Hand Test: On a breezy day, or when your heating/cooling system is running, slowly move your hand around common leak areas. Can you feel cold or warm air moving?
Incense Test: Carefully light an incense stick or smoke pencil. Hold it near suspected leak spots. If the smoke wavers, blows away, or gets sucked into the crack, you’ve found an air leak.
Common Air Leak Locations Checklist:
Use this list during your DIY energy audit:
[ ] Window frames and sills
[ ] Door frames (especially under doors)
[ ] Electrical outlets and switch plates on exterior walls
[ ] Baseboards and where walls meet the floor
[ ] Crown molding and where walls meet the ceiling
[ ] Attic access hatches or stairs
[ ] Fireplace dampers (make sure they close tightly when not in use)
[ ] Openings where plumbing pipes, electrical wires, or vents go through walls, floors, or ceilings
[ ] Around air conditioners installed in windows or walls
[ ] Mail slots in doors
“Air leaks can waste a surprising amount of energy. Experts estimate that leaks can account for 25% to 40% of the energy used for heating and cooling in an average home.”
Document Everything: As you find leaks, mark their location on your floor plan and make notes about how severe they seem. This will help you prioritize sealing them later.
Your Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is likely the biggest energy user in your home. Evaluating its condition and operation is key for efficiency and home efficiency.
Here’s what your DIY inspection should cover:
Air Filters: Check the air filter in your furnace or air handler. Is it dirty or clogged? A dirty filter makes your system work harder, wasting energy. Inspect filters monthly and replace them every 1-3 months (or as recommended by the manufacturer).
Ductwork: Look at any visible ductwork in your attic, basement, or crawlspace. Check for holes, gaps, disconnected sections, or streaks of dust near seams (a sign of leaks). Leaky ducts, especially in unheated/uncooled areas, waste a lot of energy.
Thermostat: Is your thermostat working correctly? Is it programmed for energy savings (lower temperature in winter when away or asleep, higher in summer)? Consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat for better control and efficiency. Good home efficiency often starts with smart temperature control. Smart home systems extend beyond thermostats to security too, for example with Smart Home Security Systems. See our Smart Thermostat Guide for more information.
Basic DIY Maintenance:
Clean Around Units: Keep the area around your indoor furnace/air handler and outdoor AC unit clear of debris, leaves, and obstructions to ensure good airflow.
Clean Registers and Vents: Dust or vacuum your supply and return air vents regularly. Make sure they aren’t blocked by furniture or rugs.
Using Your Smart Meter:
If you have a smart meter, check your energy usage data during times when your heating or cooling system runs frequently. Spikes in home energy use can correlate with HVAC cycles. Understanding these patterns helps identify potential issues or opportunities for savings.
“Keeping your HVAC system in good shape pays off. Properly maintained heating and cooling systems can use 15-20% less energy compared to neglected ones.”
Source
Window and Door Efficiency Assessment
Windows and doors are common culprits for home energy loss. Assessing their efficiency is an important audit step.
Here’s what to check:
Sealing and Weatherstripping: Look closely at the edges of windows and doors. Is the weatherstripping (the rubber or foam seal) cracked, compressed, loose, or missing? Open and close windows and doors – do they seal tightly?
Window Panes: Do you have single-pane windows? These offer very little insulation compared to double- or triple-pane windows. You can often feel the cold radiating off single-pane windows in winter.
Drafts: Use the incense test around window frames, sashes (the moving parts of the window), and door frames. Watch for smoke movement indicating air leaks. Pay special attention to the bottom of exterior doors.
“Windows can be a major source of unwanted heat transfer. They can account for up to 30% of a home’s heating energy loss in winter and a significant amount of heat gain in summer.”
DIY Weatherstripping Tips for Home Efficiency:
Improving window and door seals is a great DIY project for better home efficiency:
Doors: Use adhesive-backed foam tape along the top and sides of the door frame. Install a door sweep along the bottom edge.
Windows (Double-Hung): Apply V-strip weatherstripping (tension seal) along the sides of the sashes and interlocking metal strips where the sashes meet.
Windows (Casement/Awning): Replace worn-out rubber or vinyl seals in the sash channels.
Window Film: Applying insulating window film can help improve the performance of older windows, especially single-pane ones.
Appliance and Electronics Assessment for Efficiency
Your appliances and electronic devices contribute significantly to your electricity bill. Auditing them helps find hidden energy hogs and improve efficiency.
Follow these steps:
Major Appliances: Look at your refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer.
Age: How old are they? Appliances older than 10-15 years are usually much less efficient than newer models.
Energy Star: Do they have the Energy Star label? This indicates they meet high energy efficiency standards set by the EPA.
Usage: How often do you use them? Could you run the dishwasher or washing machine with full loads less often?
Energy Vampires: Identify devices that use power even when turned “off.” These include TVs, computers, game consoles, chargers, and cable boxes. Feel them – are they warm? Do they have lights that stay on? These devices consume standby power 24/7. You might even find some of these in our list of Eco-Friendly Gadgets.
EnergyGuide Labels: When shopping for new appliances, always check the yellow EnergyGuide label. It shows the estimated yearly energy consumption and operating cost, making it easy to compare the efficiency of different models.
Using Your Smart Meter:
A smart meter can be very helpful here. By observing your detailed energy usage, you might see patterns that reveal which appliances are consuming the most electricity. For example, you might notice a constant level of background energy use – this could be from energy vampires.
“Older appliances can be surprisingly wasteful. For instance, a refrigerator from the early 2000s can use up to three times more electricity than a new model that has earned the Energy Star rating.”
Replacing such energy hogs can lead to significant savings.
Lighting choices impact your home energy use. Auditing your lights helps identify easy ways to improve efficiency.
Here’s how to evaluate your lighting:
Bulb Count: Walk through your home and count the different types of light bulbs you use. Are they mostly old-style incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), or light-emitting diodes (LEDs)?
Wattage and Usage: Note the wattage of the bulbs, especially in fixtures that are used frequently (like kitchen lights, living room lamps, or porch lights). Think about how many hours per day these lights are typically on.
Identify Upgrade Opportunities: Focus on the lights used most often. Replacing incandescent or CFL bulbs in these high-use fixtures with LEDs offers the biggest and fastest energy savings. For more on efficient lighting options, check out our Smart Lighting Systems Guide.
LED Savings Example:
Let’s say you replace one 60-watt incandescent bulb used 4 hours a day with a 9-watt LED bulb (which gives similar light).
Incandescent: 60 watts x 4 hours/day x 365 days/year = 87,600 watt-hours = 87.6 kWh per year
LED: 9 watts x 4 hours/day x 365 days/year = 13,140 watt-hours = 13.1 kWh per year
Savings: 87.6 kWh – 13.1 kWh = 74.5 kWh per year for just one bulb!
Multiply this by the number of high-use bulbs you switch, and the home energy savings add up quickly.
“Lighting accounts for about 15% of the average home’s electricity consumption. Switching to LEDs is a simple change with a big impact, as LEDs use up to 75% less energy and last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, boosting overall efficiency.”
Heating water is a major home energy expense, often second only to heating and cooling your home. Checking your water heater’s efficiency is important.
What to look for:
Tank Insulation: Feel the outside of your water heater tank (if it’s a tank model). Is it warm to the touch? If so, it’s losing heat. Consider adding an insulating blanket designed for water heaters if the tank has an R-value below R-24.
Pipe Insulation: Check the hot water pipes connected to the top of the water heater. Are the first few feet insulated? Insulating hot water pipes reduces heat loss as water travels to your faucets. Use foam pipe sleeves.
Temperature Setting: Check the thermostat setting on your water heater. Many are set to 140°F (60°C) by default, which is often hotter than needed and wastes energy (and can be a scalding risk). Setting it to 120°F (49°C) is usually sufficient for most households and improves efficiency.
Age and Type: Note the age and type of your water heater. Older units are less efficient. Tankless (on-demand) water heaters are generally more efficient than traditional tank models because they only heat water when you need it.
“Water heating makes up a significant portion of your utility bill, typically accounting for about 18% of your total home energy use.”
Simple adjustments can make a difference. Lowering the temperature setting and adding tank and pipe insulation can reduce your water heating costs by 7% to 16% annually. These small steps contribute positively to your home’s overall energy performance.
While a basic DIY audit uses simple tools, technology can provide deeper insights into your home’s energy use. Smart meters and thermal imaging are two powerful tools.
Smart Meter Utilization for Home Energy Tracking
If your utility company has installed a smart meter at your home, you likely have access to detailed data about your home energy consumption. Learning to use this data is like having a window into your home’s energy habits.
Accessing and Understanding Data:
Most utility companies provide an online portal or mobile app where you can view your usage.
Data is often shown in hourly, daily, or monthly increments.
Look for graphs showing energy use over time.
Using Smart Meter Data:
Establish Baseline: Understand your typical daily and hourly energy patterns before making changes. This is your starting point.
Identify Peak Usage: Find the times of day when your energy consumption is highest. Does this match when you run major appliances or your HVAC system? Understanding peaks helps target savings efforts for better efficiency.
Measure Improvement: After making energy-saving changes (like sealing leaks or upgrading lights), check your smart meter data again. Can you see a drop in energy use during specific times or overall? This verifies that your efforts are working and improving home efficiency.
Spot Energy Waste: Look for unexpected patterns. Is energy use high overnight when everyone is asleep? This could indicate energy vampires or inefficient appliances running unnecessarily. High constant background use can also be a red flag.
“Homes where occupants actively use their smart meter data typically achieve energy savings of 3-5%, simply by being more aware of their consumption patterns and making small adjustments.”
Thermography, or thermal imaging, uses a special camera to “see” heat. In an energy audit, it visually shows temperature differences on surfaces, revealing hidden problems like missing insulation or air leaks.
How it Works:
Thermal cameras detect infrared energy (heat) and display it as a color image.
Typically, warmer areas appear as lighter, brighter colours (red, orange, yellow), while cooler areas are darker (blue, purple, black).
By looking at these temperature patterns on your walls, ceilings, and around windows, you can spot inconsistencies that signal energy loss.
Using Smartphone Cameras or Attachments:
You don’t always need an expensive professional camera. Several affordable thermal imaging attachments are available for smartphones, making thermography accessible for a DIY audit.
Interpreting Thermal Images:
Insulation Gaps: Look for cold spots or streaks on interior walls or ceilings in winter (or hot spots in summer). These often indicate areas where insulation is missing, thin, or improperly installed.
Hidden Air Leaks: Cool streaks around window/door frames, electrical outlets, or baseboards in winter show where cold air is infiltrating.
Moisture Issues: Wet areas often appear cooler due to evaporation. Thermal imaging can sometimes help detect hidden leaks or moisture problems that could damage your home and affect insulation performance.
Best Practices for DIY Thermography:
Temperature Difference: Thermal imaging works best when there’s a significant temperature difference (at least 15-20°F or 10°C) between inside and outside. Conduct your scan on a very cold morning or a very hot afternoon.
Time of Day: Early morning (before sunrise) is often best in winter to avoid the sun warming exterior walls.
Camera Settings: Familiarize yourself with your camera’s settings, particularly the temperature scale (span and range), to get clear images.
Scan Systematically: Move slowly and scan entire walls, ceilings, and floors, paying close attention to corners, edges, and penetrations.
“Thermography allows you to find energy-wasting problems that are completely invisible to the naked eye, making your energy audit much more thorough.”
Source
Analyzing Your Findings and Creating an Action Plan for Home Efficiency
You’ve completed your energy audit and gathered lots of notes. Now it’s time to make sense of your findings and decide what to fix first to improve your home efficiency.
Organize Your Findings:
Go through your notes and the marked-up floor plan. List all the problems you identified during your energy audit.
Prioritize Improvements:
Not all fixes have the same impact or cost. Categorize each problem based on:
Cost:
Low-Cost/DIY: Things you can do yourself cheaply (e.g., caulking, weatherstripping, changing lightbulbs).
Medium-Cost: Might require buying materials or specific tools (e.g., adding attic insulation, installing a smart thermostat).
High-Cost: Usually requires professional help (e.g., replacing windows, upgrading HVAC).
Impact on Savings:
Small: Minor improvements.
Medium: Noticeable savings.
Large: Significant reduction in energy use (e.g., sealing major air leaks, adding significant insulation).
DIY vs. Professional:
Can you confidently do this yourself (DIY)?
Do you need to hire a contractor?
Create Your Action Plan:
Use your prioritized list to create a simple action plan. A table can work well:
Problem Area
Identified Issue
Priority (High/Med/Low)
Estimated Cost
DIY or Pro?
Planned Action
Timeline
Windows (Living Room)
Drafts around frame, single pane
High
Low (Seal)/High (Replace)
DIY (Seal)
Caulk/weatherstrip frames
Next Wknd
Attic
Insulation below joists (R-19?)
High
Medium
DIY/Pro?
Get quotes for adding R-30
Next Month
Outlet (Exterior Wall)
Cold draft felt
Medium
Low
DIY
Install foam gasket
Next Wknd
Basement Rim Joist
No insulation
High
Medium
DIY
Cut & install foam board
2 Weeks
Old Refrigerator (Garage)
Energy hog, poor seal
Medium
High
N/A
Unplug, plan replacement
6 Months
Consider Return on Investment (ROI):
Think about how quickly an improvement will pay for itself through energy savings. Simple, low-cost fixes often have the fastest ROI. Sealing air leaks, for example, is inexpensive but can save a lot on heating/cooling. Focus on tasks that give you the most efficiency bang for your buck first.
“Many homeowners find they can implement several low-cost improvements identified in their DIY audit with a payback period of less than two years.”
Ready to start saving energy right away? Here are five high-impact, low-cost DIY improvements you can likely tackle yourself after your audit, boosting your home efficiency quickly.
1. Seal Air Leaks with Caulk and Weatherstripping:
What it fixes: Drafts around windows, doors, baseboards, pipe entries.
How to do it:
Use acrylic latex caulk for small cracks and gaps (less than 1/4 inch wide) along stationary joints like window frames and baseboards. Clean the area, apply a steady bead, and smooth it.
Use adhesive-backed foam or rubber weatherstripping for moving parts like window sashes and door frames. Clean the surface, cut the strip to length, peel the backing, and press firmly in place.
Products: Caulk gun, tubes of paintable caulk, rolls of weatherstripping tape.
2. Install LED Bulbs in High-Use Fixtures:
What it fixes: Energy waste from inefficient incandescent or CFL bulbs.
How to do it: Identify the 5-10 light fixtures you use most often (kitchen, living room, porch). Unscrew the old bulbs and screw in new LED bulbs with similar brightness (lumens) but much lower wattage.
Products: LED bulbs (choose the right brightness and color temperature – e.g., “soft white” for living areas, “daylight” for kitchens/workspaces).
3. Add Door Sweeps to Exterior Doors:
What it fixes: Drafts coming under exterior doors.
How to do it: Measure the width of your door. Purchase a door sweep (strip with a brush or rubber flap) of the correct size. Cut to fit if necessary. Hold it against the bottom edge of the door (usually on the inside) so it seals tightly against the threshold when closed. Mark screw holes, drill pilot holes, and attach the sweep with screws.
What it fixes: Energy vampires (devices using standby power).
How to do it: Identify clusters of electronics (TV/entertainment center, computer desk). Plug these devices into a smart power strip. Plug the main device (e.g., TV or computer) into the “control” outlet. When you turn off the main device, the strip automatically cuts power to the other outlets (speakers, game console, printer).
Products: Smart power strips (different types available).
5. Apply Low-E Window Film:
What it fixes: Heat loss/gain through single-pane or older double-pane windows.
How to do it: Clean the window glass thoroughly. Measure the glass and cut the insulating window film slightly larger. Spray the glass with a special application solution (or soapy water). Peel the backing from the film, spray the sticky side, and apply it to the wet glass. Smooth out bubbles with a squeegee. Trim the excess film around the edges with a sharp utility knife. (Heat-shrink film applied with a hairdryer is another option for winter use).
Products: Low-E window film kit (includes film and sometimes tools), spray bottle, squeegee, utility knife.
“Implementing just these five quick improvements can often reduce overall home energy bills by 10-15%, providing a noticeable boost in efficiency with minimal cost and effort.”
When to Call a Professional After Your Energy Audit
While a DIY energy audit empowers you to fix many home efficiency issues, some problems are too complex or dangerous for the average homeowner. Knowing when to call in a qualified professional is important.
Consider seeking professional help in these situations:
Electrical System Issues: If your audit reveals problems with wiring, outlets that feel hot, frequently tripping breakers, or if you need new circuits installed, always call a licensed electrician. Working with electricity is dangerous.
Extensive Ductwork Problems: While you can seal minor, accessible duct leaks with mastic sealant or foil tape, major problems like crushed, disconnected, or poorly designed ductwork usually require an HVAC professional. They have the tools and knowledge to repair or redesign duct systems properly.
Major Insulation Upgrades: Adding loose-fill insulation to an attic is often a DIY job. However, tasks like insulating walls (dense-packing cellulose or injecting foam) or complex crawl space encapsulation typically require specialized equipment and expertise. Poorly installed insulation can cause moisture problems.
HVAC System Replacement or Major Repair: If your furnace, boiler, or air conditioner is old, inefficient, malfunctioning, or needs significant repairs (like replacing a compressor or heat exchanger), you’ll need a certified HVAC technician.
Selecting Qualified Professionals:
Get Recommendations: Ask friends, neighbors, or colleagues for referrals.
Check Credentials: Look for licensed and insured contractors. Check for certifications relevant to energy efficiency (like BPI – Building Performance Institute).
Get Multiple Quotes: Obtain detailed written estimates from at least three different contractors for any significant project. Compare scope of work, materials, warranties, and cost.
Ask Questions:
How long have you been doing this type of work?
Can you provide references from past clients?
What warranties do you offer on materials and labor?
Will you handle necessary permits?
What steps will you take to protect my home during the work?
Professional Energy Audits:
If your DIY energy audit uncovers complex issues, or if you want the most thorough assessment possible, consider a professional energy audit. They use tools like blower doors and infrared cameras for precise measurements. Costs typically range from $300 to $700, depending on home size and location.
“Often, the best approach for improving home efficiency involves combining easy DIY fixes with targeted professional work for the more complex issues identified during your energy audit. This strategy usually offers the best return on your investment.”
Tracking Results and Continuous Improvement for Home Efficiency
You’ve done your DIY energy audit and started making improvements. Great job! But the journey to better home energyefficiency doesn’t stop there. Tracking your results and performing regular check-ups ensures your savings last.
Monitor Your Energy Consumption:
Utility Bills: Keep comparing your monthly energy bills to the baseline data you gathered before the audit. Look for reductions in kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and therms (or cubic feet/meters) of natural gas.
Smart Meter Data: If you have a smart meter, continue checking your online portal or app. Compare your daily or hourly usage patterns after improvements to your patterns before. Can you see the impact of your changes?
Track Savings:
Create a simple spreadsheet or logbook to track your energy use and estimated cost savings over time.
Month/Year
Electricity (kWh)
Gas (therms)
Monthly Bill ($)
Notes / Changes Made
Estimated Savings ($)
Jan 2023
850
120
$210
Baseline
$0
Feb 2023
800
110
$195
Sealed air leaks
$15
Mar 2023
750
90
$170
Added attic insulation
$40
…
…
…
…
…
…
Seasonal Check-ups:
Energy issues can change with the seasons. Plan for quick mini-audits or check-ups:
Fall: Check heating system filters, inspect weatherstripping before cold weather hits, ensure fireplace damper closes tightly.
Spring: Check AC filters, clean AC condenser coils, inspect window seals.
Maintain Improvements:
Some fixes need maintenance. Weatherstripping can wear out, caulk can crack, filters get dirty. Regularly inspect the improvements you’ve made to ensure they are still effective for maintaining home efficiency.
“Continuous monitoring and maintenance are key to making your energy savings last. By staying vigilant, you can potentially maintain energy savings of 15% to 30% in the long term.”
Set Goals and Celebrate:
Set realistic goals for reducing your energy consumption further. When you reach a milestone (e.g., reducing your electricity use by 10%), celebrate your success! This helps keep you motivated on your home efficiency journey.
Conclusion: Start Your DIY Home Energy Audit Today!
Conducting a regular DIY home energy audit is one of the smartest steps you can take as a homeowner. It puts you in control, helping you understand exactly how your house uses – and wastes – energy. As we’ve seen, the benefits are clear: lower utility bills, a more comfortable living space year-round, and a smaller environmental footprint.
Remember, improving home energyefficiency doesn’t always require expensive renovations. Your DIY audit will likely uncover many simple, low-cost fixes, like sealing air leaks or upgrading light bulbs. These small changes really do add up, leading to significant energy and cost savings over time.
“Don’t feel overwhelmed by the process. Start with the easiest steps outlined in this guide. Even identifying and fixing one or two major energy leaks makes a difference.”
Build on your successes, tackle more improvements as time and budget allow, and enjoy the rewards of a more efficient home.
Take action today! Schedule some time, gather your tools (even if it’s just a flashlight and notepad to start), and begin your DIY home energy audit. Improving your home efficiency is an investment in your comfort, your finances, and the planet.
Additional Elements
DIY Home Energy Audit Checklist
(Use this comprehensive checklist during your audit. Print it or use it digitally.)
Project: DIY Home Energy Audit Date: Auditor:
Preparation:
[ ] Gathered past 12 months’ utility bills
[ ] Have notebook/tablet & pen
[ ] Have flashlight
[ ] Have digital thermometer
[ ] Have incense stick/smoke pencil
[ ] Accessed smart meter data (if applicable)
[ ] Have thermal camera (optional)
[ ] Have home floor plan
Exterior Inspection:
[ ] Roof condition: ______ Notes: ______
[ ] Wall cracks/gaps: ______ Location(s): ______
[ ] Foundation cracks/gaps: ______ Location(s): ______
[ ] Main bulb types used: Incandescent / CFL / LED
[ ] High-use fixtures identified: List locations: ______
[ ] Potential fixtures for LED upgrade: List: ______
Water Heating Assessment:
[ ] Water heater type: Tank/Tankless Age: ______ Energy Star? Y/N
[ ] Tank insulation present/needed: Y/N Tank feels warm? Y/N
[ ] Hot water pipes insulated (first 3-6 ft): Y/N
[ ] Temperature setting (°F/°C): ______ (Recommend 120°F/49°C)
Action Plan Notes: (List priority fixes based on cost, impact, and DIY feasibility)
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Seasonal Energy Audit Tips
Adapt your DIY home energy audit focus based on the season for maximum efficiency gains:
Winter Audit:
Focus: Heat loss and air leaks. The large temperature difference makes drafts and insulation gaps easier to find (especially with thermography).
Check: Window/door seals, attic insulation depth, furnace filter, fireplace damper, drafts from outlets on exterior walls. Ensure home efficiency by keeping warm air in.
Spring Audit:
Focus: Preparing for cooling season, checking for winter damage.
Check: AC filter replacement, clean outdoor AC unit coils, inspect window screens, check basement/crawlspace for moisture issues after snowmelt/rain, inspect roof/gutters. Optimize home energy use before summer heat.
Summer Audit:
Focus: Cooling efficiency and heat gain.
Check: Effectiveness of AC, drafts letting cool air escape, solar heat gain through windows (consider films or shading), attic ventilation, appliance heat generation. Maintain home efficiency by keeping cool air in and hot air out.
Fall Audit:
Focus: Preparing for heating season, sealing leaks before cold weather.
Check: Furnace filter and operation (schedule professional tune-up if needed), re-check window/door seals, ensure attic insulation is ready, inspect/clean gutters before leaf fall, check thermostat programming. Improve home energy readiness for winter.
FAQ Section
Q: How often should I conduct a DIY home energy audit? A: It’s best to do a thorough DIY home energy audit once a year. Also, do mini check-ups seasonally (as described above) and after any major home renovations or appliance replacements, as these changes can affect your home’s efficiency.
Q: What’s the difference between a smart meter and a regular meter? A: A regular (analog or basic digital) meter usually just records total energy consumption between readings (typically monthly). A smart meter records energy use much more frequently (often hourly or even in 15-minute intervals) and can communicate this data back to the utility company automatically. This allows both you and the utility to see detailed usage patterns, helping identify peak demand times and potential energy waste.
Q: Can thermography really detect insulation problems? A: Yes, absolutely! Thermography is very effective at spotting insulation issues. By showing temperature differences on surfaces, a thermal camera can visually highlight areas where insulation is missing, compressed, or wet, which wouldn’t be visible otherwise. It’s a powerful tool for finding hidden energy audit issues.
Q: What’s the fastest way to improve home energy efficiency? A: Generally, the quickest and most cost-effective ways to boost home efficiency are: 1. Seal Air Leaks: Using caulk and weatherstripping to stop drafts around windows, doors, and penetrations offers a very fast payback. 2. Switch to LED Lighting: Replacing high-use incandescent or CFL bulbs with LEDs provides immediate electricity savings.
Q: How much can I typically save with a DIY home energy audit? A: Savings vary greatly depending on the condition of your home and how many improvements you implement. However, by identifying issues through a DIY home energy audit and making recommended fixes (especially low-cost ones), homeowners can typically save between 10% and 30% on their annual home energy bills.
