18 May What is my Role as the Homeowner During a Residential Energy Audit?

During your residential energy audit, spend time with the energy auditor asking and answering questions. Don’t be shy! You know your home much better than the energy auditor does. You know the problem areas in your home, such as uncomfortable rooms, cold floors, chilly drafts and uneven temperatures. If you don’t understand something that was said or what the energy auditor is doing – ask!

Energy auditors often use confusing terms such as “CFM50”, “ACH” or “pascals”. You want to understand what the energy auditor does so you can be more familiar with the process.

What is your Role During a Residential Energy Audit

As a homeowner, your primary role during a residential energy audit is to identify the main goals and objectives. Additionally, you need to communicate these goals to the auditor.

Do you want to lower your utility bills, improve uncomfortable rooms or eliminate health/safety problems? Maybe you want to create a long-term energy improvement strategy for your home to improve its resale value. Do you want to better understand how renewable technologies can help your home be more environmentally friendly.

No matter what your specific goals are, the more the homeowner is involved in the energy audit process, the better the result will be. For example, the energy auditor provides a prioritized list of energy and health/safety recommendations to improve you home. Once again, ask questions about the recommendations so you completely understand them. For instance, the auditor may recommend you install insulation baffles in your attic. You should know what this recommendation is and why it could help prevent moisture and mold formation in your attic.

You should work with your energy auditor to develop a scope of work for a project that will achieve the specific goals you have for your home. If you goal is to improve comfort in certain areas of your home, the scope of work should include recommendations that collectively will accomplish that goal.

Lastly, selecting a quality, experienced contractor that complete the project for you remains essential for improving your home’s efficiency, comfort and livability. Remember, the energy audit is the “plan” or “roadmap” as to how to achieve the goals in your home. But your home will not be more comfortable, will not save energy and will not be a healthier, safer place to live until the work is complete.