A residential energy assessment, which is also known as a residential energy evaluation, is the main step towards improving your home’s overall energy efficiency. An assessment will help to identify effective ways of improving the overall efficiency and comfort of your home, which in turn saves you money on utility bills.

All home energy assessments should be conducted by a registered energy advisor. Your selected home energy audit company will evaluate things such as your home’s furnace, insulation and air leakage before offering you a comprehensive report with a number of recommendations for upgrades that will improve the energy efficiency of your home. The report will also include your rating in terms of home efficiency, and if you hire right, you’ll also be informed of how to benefit from the existing rebates for home renovations that improve energy efficiency.

Preparing for a home energy assessment

Before a home energy advisor comes to your house, it is best for you to create a list of any existing problems that you are aware of. Some of the items to include in your list include draughty or uncomfortable rooms, or condensation building up on your walls or windows. The home energy advisor will conduct a thorough analysis of all relevant areas of your home. They will begin by examining your homes exterior to establish both the size of your house and features of note such as window size, wall area, and number of windows, before conducting their internal assessment.

Your auditor may also be interested in some of your own behaviours within your home, in relation to energy consumption, and may ask questions such as:

1. How many people live in your house?
2. What is the average thermostat setting for winter and summer?
3. Are most of your light CFL or LED?
4. Do you leave anyone at home during working hours?

Your answers to these questions can help uncover simple ways to reduce energy consumption of your home, while your advisor will also identify more complex, or harder to identify, areas of your home that could benefit from incased energy efficiency.

A home energy assessment can be a pain-free process on your part, and making the necessary home improvements as recommended by your home energy advisor can, and will, benefit you in the short and long term.

Need help knowing who to hire? Read more here.