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What Is An Energy Audit?

The goal of a home energy audit is to help Jacksonville area residents improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This thorough inspection helps you find areas where the building is wasting the most energy in order to find ways to save on costs. This multi-step process pinpoints air leaks, energy waste, and even health and safety issues that persist in your space.

A quality energy audit has two important parts. First, a home assessment is conducted to evaluate your home from the attic to the basement. Once the data of the environment is collected, it then needs to be analyzed. The results of the test and analysis are then used to compile potential solutions to improve your space.

Why You Need An Energy Audit

According to Energy Saver, efficiency upgrades from an energy audit can lower your energy costs by 5 to 30 percent. Heating and cooling costs account for nearly 50% of the electricity bill for most American homeowners. Poor insulation coverage, lack of air sealing, and wasteful appliances all contribute to higher energy waste for a Jacksonville household throughout the year, especially during extreme weather in the summer.

The results of an energy audit help you target the areas where you’re losing the most heat and conditioned air so you can replace old, damaged, or deteriorated materials. Many homeowners take for granted small openings in their building envelopes as insignificant spaces or cracks; an energy audit can show you just how much these areas are costing you per month by letting air leak from your home.

What To Expect From A Professional Audit In Jacksonville

A professional energy audit is a detailed and lengthy process to make sure the whole building is covered. Every nook and cranny needs to be inspected in several different ways to provide the best data. This information is then input into an analysis program to compare against current energy requirements, recommended energy-efficiency standards, and the performance of other nearby buildings. After the results of the analysis are compiled, the information is used to provide the best recommendations that are both cost-effective and energy-efficient to improve the comfort, safety, and savings of your environment.

Tools And Processes

Interviews - A key part of an energy audit is learning more about how the household operates. Thermostat habits, schedules, and leisure activities are all seemingly small details that can play a significant part in where you're wasting energy. Your Jacksonville area auditor needs to learn more about the problems you're having and that often starts with understanding how the home operates.

Blower Door Test - A common inspection tactic to find hidden air leaks is to use the blower door test. A temporary door cover with a fan and air pressure gauge blocks a regular doorway to depressurize the house. These tests even need to be conducted before and after an air sealing installation to ensure the sealant is effective.

Thermal Imaging - Thermal imaging, or infrared imaging, sees the temperature in a house to help inspect where your home may have irregular temperatures. This is often paired with a blower door test to find air leaks that may be in areas that are harder to see on your own.

Areas To Examine

Interior - From every cubby in your attic to each cavity in your basement, your home energy audit professional will comb through the entirety of your living space. Air sealing around windows and doors needs to be examined, air registers are inspected for security, and even the outlets and fixtures are evaluated for air leaks. Your insulation is a crucial part of this inspection as the experts check for water damage, leakage, and safety issues.

Exterior - Indoor appliances and materials aren’t the only defense you have against energy waste. The exterior of your home needs to be inspected just as thoroughly to find any damage, deterioration, or signs of potential problems. The mechanical systems outdoors - like your HVAC unit - need to be looked over to determine if outside forces are contributing to excessive strain on the systems in your home.

Health and Safety - Taking a closer look at the quality, efficiency, and integrity of your home’s building envelope and materials is about more than just energy efficiency. Your energy auditor is also looking at appliances and materials for safety concerns, health risks, and

Analysis

Past Bills - Before getting to the results of your inspection, a professional also needs to take a closer look at the past year’s energy consumption. They can review this information through documents like your fuel bills to provide an accurate savings percentage. Local utility companies, like JEA for Northwest Jacksonville residents, will be able to provide the necessary data your energy assessor is looking to review.

Findings - After the information is noted, photographed, and compared, it’s time to review the details of the report. You’ll be able to take a closer look at the characterization of your home and the pain points inside and outside of your home. With the results of this analysis, your next step is to work with local professionals to find solutions that cut back on your energy usage.

Improving Energy Efficiency With Northwest Jacksonville Professionals

The results of your energy audit will give you more effective ideas than simply turning off lights when you leave a room or changing your thermostat habits. One of the most effective ways to tackle energy waste without drastically changing your appliances is to update the insulation and air sealing throughout your environment. Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville works closely with local companies and energy assessors to provide solutions that not only target energy efficiency but also cost reduction for your monthly bills.

To learn more about how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home, contact Koala Insulation of Northwest Jacksonville to find out how you can schedule an energy audit.