An energy audit is an analysis of an occupied building with a view to reducing energy consumption while optimizing human comfort, health and safety. A professional home energy audit is the simplest way of doing it. Most homeowners are unaware of energy wastage in the average home or the potential to conserve...until such facts are presented in black and white by a professional.

A home energy audit would involve the study of the building as a whole including the floors, ceiling, walls, windows, doors and skylights. The resistance of heat flow that each of these elements offers is estimated or recorded. The rate of leakage in windows, doors and any other apertures is another area of interest. The objective is to estimate the overall thermal performance of your home. The audit proceeds to evaluate the physical condition and efficiency of mechanical systems such as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning and of course the thermostat.

The homeowner is required to produce details of consumption of gas, electricity and fuel oil or other energy sources over a period of a year or two to enable the auditor to formulate a pattern of consumption.

The final analysis might include a written report analyzing the energy use, given local conditions that include solar orientation. The report would identify areas that require to be addressed which might relate to unproductive energy use or energy losses that are controllable. It could also suggest more effective ways of exploiting natural orientation towards optimizing the use of solar energy and natural light.

The advantage in using the services of a professional are that specialized equipment will be used and there is no substitute for experience when determining how to lower your energy consumption effectively.