Understanding the Energy Audit: Why it’s worth doing?
Energy audits are {easily accessible|accessible|readily available} to {all, but|everyone, however only a|everyone, yet} {few people choose to have|very few choose to get|only a few opt to have} one. {Most people are not aware|Many people are unaware|The majority of people aren’t aware} {of the benefits they|about the advantages they|that they have benefits} {offer|provide|can provide} or {their existence|even their existence|the fact that they exist}.
{Only 9% of|Just 9%|9 percent of} {respondents|those who responded|the respondents} to the {2020 survey|survey for 2020 conducted|survey in 2020} {by|of|from} the Department of Technology and Society, Stony Brook University, New York had ever undergone an energy audit.
An energy audit {could really|can} {help you minimize|aid in reducing|assist you in reducing} {your carbon footprint through|your carbon footprint by|the carbon footprint of your home by} {identifying areas in your residential|finding areas of your home|the identification of areas in your residence} {and industrial buildings that waste|or industrial building that use up|and industrial structures that are wasting} energy. {You can also|It can also help you|You could also} {save time and money|reduce time and cost|save money and time} on {energy bills by reducing your|costs for energy by reducing your|expenses for energy by reducing} {energy consumption|energy usage|consumption of energy}.
This guide will {explain|outline|provide} the {fundamentals|basics|basic principles} {of an energy audit,|that an audit can provide,|for an energy audit and} {how|and how|the ways} {this|it} {can|will} {help you save money|assist you in saving money|aid you in saving} on energy{,|| costs,} and {how it can|also how it can|how it will} {help you assess|aid you in assessing|assist you in assessing} {the environmental impact of your|how your building impacts the environment.|any environmental impacts of the} {building|home|structure}.
What is an Energy Audit?
A {residential or commercial building|commercial or residential building|commercial or residential property} {is subject to an energy audit|will be subjected to an audit on energy|can be evaluated for energy efficiency}{ in order|} to {assess|determine|evaluate} {its energy efficiency|the efficiency of its use|their energy performance}. {Energy efficiency simply means that|Efficiency in energy simply means that|Energy efficiency simply means} you {use|consume|require} less energy {to accomplish|for|to complete} the same {task|thing|job}. This {audit will provide you with|review will give you a|audit will give you} {a detailed|an in-depth|the complete} {analysis of your electricity usage|review of your power usage|analysis of the use of electricity} and {power efficiency|efficiency of power|energy efficiency}.
{The audit report will|Audit reports|This audit report is going to} {provide|give|offer} {important information about|crucial information regarding|vital information on} {your energy consumption|your energy usage|the energy you use} {and|as well as your} Energy Star {rating|score|ratings}. {This information will allow|This will help|The information you receive will enable} you to {identify and rectify|pinpoint and fix|determine and correct} any {energy usage problems|issues with energy consumption|issues related to energy use} {in order to reduce|to cut down on|so that you can reduce your} {electricity costs|the cost of electricity|energy costs}. Before {implementing|you implement|you begin implementing} any renewable energy {system,|system|source,} {it is a good idea|it’s a good idea|it’s best} to {conduct|perform|do} {an energy audit|the energy audit|your own energy assessment}.
Who performs an Energy Audit?
{An energy auditor or registered|A registered energy auditor or an energy auditor} {energy advisor|Energy Advisor|adviser to energy} {from|of|with} Shneyder Solar will conduct {a home or business|an} energy audit. Shneyder Solar energy auditors {can also|are also able to} {conduct energy efficiency assessments|perform energy efficiency audits|carry out energy efficiency assessments} for {commercial and noncommercial|noncommercial and commercial} {buildings|structures|building}.
What happens during an Energy Audit?
An energy audit {consists of|is comprised of|has} three {components|parts|elements}{: testing, evaluation,| that include evaluation, testing,| of testing, evaluation} and {recommendations|suggestions} {for|to improve} {efficiency|effectiveness}.
{After the audit is completed|Once the audit has been completed|When the audit is complete}{, the| after the audit is completed, the| The} auditor {from|of} Shneyder Solar will give you a report {that details|detailing|with details of} {energy consumption and a final|the energy usage and an overall|the amount of energy consumed and a final} energy rating. {Also, there are|There are also|Additionally, there are} {home improvement suggestions|improvements to your home|some home improvements}{ that can be made|| which can be implemented} to {reduce energy costs|cut down on energy bills|lower energy costs}.
The Evaluation
{An energy auditor from|A certified energy auditer from|The energy auditing company} Shneyder Solar registered with the government will {visit|come to|be at} your {business or home|home or business|house or office} to {conduct|perform} {an energy audit|the energy audit|an audit of your energy usage}. {This will determine how much|The audit will reveal how much|This will help determine the amount of} energy you {use and|consume and also|are using and} {where there are problems|the areas where there are issues|any areas of concern}.
During {their walk-through they will|the walk-through, they will|their walk-through , they’ll} {examine specific elements that affect|look at specific aspects that impact|analyze specific aspects that affect} {your business’s energy efficiency|the efficiency of your business’s energy use|your company’s efficiency in energy}.
Shneyder Solar auditors will {inspect your heating systems,|examine your heating systems,|check your heating systems} {also known|commonly referred to|which are also known} {as HVAC systems|by the name HVAC|in HVAC units}, {as well as|and} {your|the} insulation levels. {Underground walls,|Walls that are underground|The walls that are under the ground} {as well as|and} attic walls are {included|also included}. They {will also count and|also count and|will also} {count|determine|calculate} the number of {windows and doors|doors and windows} {in your building|within your home|in your house}.
{Airtightness and Other Tests|Testing for airtightness and other tests|Airtightness , and Other Tests}
{An air tightness or|A|The air tightness or} blower door {test|inspection|testing} is the {second|2nd|third} {component|element|part} {of an energy audit|in an audit of energy efficiency|to an energy audit}. {Energy auditor from|An energy auditor from|The energy auditor of} Shneyder Solar will check for air leakage {in|within|inside} {buildings or homes|houses or buildings|homes or structures} {during this part|in this phase|during this portion} of {an|the} audit. {An airtightness test includes|A test for airtightness includes|The airtightness test is} {an air sealing procedure|the air sealing process|an air sealing process}. Shneyder Solar auditor will {seal the building’s front door|close the front door of the building|secure the front door of the building} and {place a large|then install a huge|install a massive} fan inside.
The fan {will draw the|draws the|will draw} indoor air {outside|out} of the {building|structure}. This {will cause outside air|causes outside air|causes air from outside} to {flow|pass|move} through {any cracks and holes|the cracks and holes|any holes and cracks}. {These air leaks can often|Air leaks are often able to|The air leaks may} be felt {with your hands|by your fingers|using your hands}{, but| however| However,} Shneyder Solar auditors will {use feathers and incense|employ incense and feathers|make use of incense and feathers} to {pinpoint the exact location|identify the exact location|determine the exact location}.
Shneyder Solar energy auditor will {perform a thermographic scan|conduct a thermographic analysis|run a thermographic inspection} of your {home or business|business or home|property or office} to {assess its energy consumption|determine its energy usage|evaluate its energy use}. They {will also use|also employ|will also make use of} {a variety of energy usage|various energy consumption|various energy-related} {equipment to measure|devices to determine|tools to gauge} {energy consumption such as|the amount of energy consumed, including|energy usage, such as} {surface thermometers and infrared cameras|Infrared cameras and surface thermometers|thermal sensors on the surface and infrared cameras}.
Shneyder Solar auditor will also {review|look over|examine} {utility bills from the past|energy bills for the last few years|utilities bills that were paid in the past}.
Recommendations for improving energy efficiency
{After your commercial or residential|When your residential or commercial|Once your residential or commercial} {building has been inspected|structure has been examined|construction has been assessed} and {tested|checked|examined}, Shneyder Solar energy {auditor will give you|auditors will provide you with|auditors will present you with} {a detailed|an extensive|the complete} {list of energy efficiency improvements|list of improvements to energy efficiency|listing of improvements to energy efficiency} {that you can make|that you can implement|you can take}. {Most of these recommendations can|The majority of these suggestions can|A majority of these recommendations will} {help you reduce your utility|aid in reducing your utility|assist you in reducing your energy} {bills if implemented|costs if they are implemented|bill if you implement them}.
Why is an Energy Audit Important?
{A routine energy audit will|An annual energy audit can|An annual energy audit will} {help you reduce|aid you in reducing|assist you in reducing} {your carbon footprint, conserve|your carbon footprint, save|the carbon footprint of your business, conserve} energy{ and continue to be|, and remain| and be} efficient. Here are {some reasons why|a few reasons why|a few of the reasons} an energy audit {matters|is important|is essential}:
- An energy audit {can help you|can help|will help you} {identify energy-saving opportunities|find energy-saving opportunities|discover energy-saving possibilities}.
- This will {allow you to|help you|enable you to} better {understand and plan|plan and understand|comprehend and plan} your energy {use|consumption|usage}.
- An energy audit {can help you|can help|will help you} {identify safety issues with|find safety concerns with|determine safety issues in} wiring{, ventilation and electrical| electrical, ventilation and other| or ventilation systems, as well as electrical} systems. This {will|can|can help} {make your home or business|ensure that your business or home is|make your home or office} more {secure|safe}.
- It {will increase the|can increase the|will add} value of {a home|the home|a house}.
- An energy audit {can assist|can help|will assist} you in determining {how|ways|the best way} to {lower carbon monoxide levels|reduce the amount of carbon monoxide|reduce carbon monoxide levels} {in your homes and businesses|within your business and homes|in your workplace and home}.
Are there different types of Energy Audits?
There are two {types|kinds} of energy audits{ available| that are available|}{: a preliminary and| one that is a preliminary and the other| two types: a preliminary one and} {a more detailed|more thorough|an additional} one. {Your needs will determine which|The needs of your business will determine the|Your requirements will determine which} {type of audit you choose|kind of audit you select|type of audit you pick}.
{Preliminary energy audit: This|The preliminary energy audit} {audit is a data gathering|Audit is a data collection|exercise is a gathering of data} {exercise that provides|exercise that gives|procedure that offers} {a preliminary analysis|an initial analysis|an initial assessment}. This {type|kind} of audit is {often done|usually conducted|typically conducted} by the auditor {through|in|via} {a walk-through investigation|an investigation that is a walk-through|the process of a walk-through}. Shneyder Solar energy auditor who is {a professional|certified|an expert} {will use readily available data|can use data readily available|uses readily available information} and {limited diagnostic tools|the limited diagnostic tools available} {to conduct a preliminary|to conduct an initial|for conducting a preliminary} audit.
{Detail energy audit|Details energy audits|Energy audits in detail}: A {professional|certified|qualified} {auditor from|auditer from|auditor of} Shneyder Solar will conduct this {type|kind} of audit. They {monitor, analyze|will monitor, analyze|analyze, monitor}{, and verify energy usage| and validate energy use| the energy usage of their clients} to {identify problem areas|find areas of concern|determine areas that are in need of improvement} and {to suggest|suggest|recommend} {ways to improve energy|methods to increase energy|ways to improve} efficiency. The {technical report will include|report’s technical content will contain|report’s technical aspects will include} their {recommendations and findings|suggestions and conclusions}. {A professional|An experienced|A certified} {energy auditor|auditor of energy|auditor of your energy consumption} {from|of|with the} Shneyder Solar can also {use sophisticated instrumentation|utilize sophisticated instruments|make use of sophisticated equipment}{, such as| like| including} {a scanner|scanners|an scanner}{, flue gas analyzer and| flue gas analyzer, a flue gas analyzer and a| or flue gas analyzer as well as a} {flow meter,|flowmeter,|flow meter} to conduct {a detailed|an in-depth|a thorough} {audit of your energy consumption|review of your energy usage|analysis of your consumption of energy}.
How do I conduct an Energy Audit of my own home?
You can {do|conduct|perform} {a|an|yourself a} DIY energy audit {of the|of your|on your} home{ if|, if| even if} you don’t have {the budget|the money|enough money} to {hire|engage|pay} {a professional auditor from|an expert auditor from|an auditor who is certified by} Shneyder Solar.
{You can keep a list|Keep a record|You can make a list} of {areas you have|areas that you have|the areas you’ve} {audited, and take note|examined, and keep track|reviewed, and note} of any {problems|issues}. This will {help you prioritize|help you decide on|allow you to prioritize} the {energy efficiency upgrades that|improvements to energy efficiency that|energy efficiency improvements} you {should|need to|must} {consider|take into consideration|look into}.
{Do-it-yourself energy audits are not|Energy audits that you can do yourself aren’t|Do-it-yourself energy audits aren’t} as {reliable and credible|trustworthy and reliable|reliable and trustworthy} {as professional services|like professional audits|in comparison to professional service}. If {you are unsure|you’re not sure|you’re not sure of} {how to diagnose or fix|what to do to fix or diagnose|about how to identify or fix} {a problem, it is|the issue, it’s|an issue, it’s} {best to hire|recommended to seek out|better to consult} {a professional|an expert|professionals}.
Step 1: {Locate|Identify|Find} {any|the|all} air leaks. {First, identify any|The first step is to identify|First, find any} {poorly ventilated areas|poor-ventilated areas|air-conditioned areas that are not properly ventilated}. Air leaks are {common among|commonplace in|frequent in} {gates, window frames,|windows, gates,|gates, window frames} {and electrical outlets|as well as electrical outlet|along with electrical outlets}. If you {find|spot|notice} {a leak, seal|an air leak, you can seal|the leak, close} it {with weather-stripping or caulk|using weather-stripping or caulk|by caulking or weather-stripping}.
Step 2: {Assess|Examine|Evaluate} {your home’s ventilation|the ventilation system in your home|the ventilation in your home}. {Once you have found any|If you’ve found|If you’ve discovered any} air leaks {in|within|inside} your {home, it is|house, it’s|home, it’s} time to {evaluate|assess|examine} {the ventilation system|your ventilation systems|how your home’s ventilation works}. {You must|It is essential to|You should} {ensure that|make sure that|be sure} you have a {healthy|safe} and {adequate air supply|sufficient supply of air|adequate supply of air, especially} {if you use fuels like|when you are using fuels such as|for your home if you utilize fuels like} {propane, natural gas,|natural gas, propane,|natural gas, propane} or wood.
Step Three: Check your insulation levels. This {step is easy|is a simple step|is an easy step}. {This step is very simple|This is a simple step|It’s a straightforward process}. {You will need to inspect|You’ll need to check|It is necessary to examine} the {insulation levels|levels of insulation} {in your attic, around|in your attic, and around|within your attic and around} {your heating and cooling system|your cooling and heating system|the cooling and heating systems}. In winter, {energy consumption|the energy use|energy usage} {is higher when there isn’t|is greater when there’s not|increases when there isn’t} enough insulation.
Step Four: Evaluate your lighting. {Although it may not seem|While it might not appear|Although it might not seem} {like much|to be much|as a lot}{, your lighting can have| but your lighting could have| however, lighting has a} {a huge|an enormous|significant} impact on {your energy bill|the cost of your energy|your electricity bill}. {It is possible to|You can|There is a way to} {switch|change|convert} to LEDs or {energy-saving|energy-efficient|energy efficient} {incandescent bulbs|bulb incandescents|lighting sources like incandescent lamps} (CFLs) and {save money|reduce your energy costs|save money}.
Step 5: {Examine|Check|Take a look at} your {electronics and appliances|appliances and electronics|appliances and electronic devices}. {Energy-efficient appliances are one of|Appliances that are energy efficient are among|Energy-efficient appliances are among} the {best ways you can|most effective ways to|most efficient ways to} {save energy|conserve energy|reduce your energy consumption} {in|within} your home. {It’s crucial|It is essential|It’s essential} to {take into account|consider|think about} the {type of electronics|kind of electronics|type of electronic devices} and appliances {you own|you have|that you own} {when performing|in conducting|when conducting} {an energy audit|the energy audit|your energy assessment}. Are they Energy {Star-certified|Star certified}? Are they {older|old} {and less efficient|or less effective|in design and more energy-efficient}?
Are Energy Audits Free?
{A few utility programs|Some utility programs|Certain utility plans} {and energy service providers|as well as energy providers|or energy companies} {offer|provide|give} homeowners {a free energy audit|a no-cost energy audit|an energy audit for free}. {The above low-cost energy audits|These audits, which are free,|These low-cost energy audits} {typically do not provide|generally do not offer|typically don’t provide} specific {info and can|information and will|details and} only {provide broad estimates|give general estimates|provide general estimations} of {your building’s energy usage|the energy use in your home|your building’s energy consumption}. {Free energy audits do not|Energy audits that are free do not|The free energy audits don’t} {provide tailored energy-saving solutions|offer specific energy-saving strategies|provide specific energy-saving options}.
What Should an Energy Audit Cost?
{An average|A typical} home energy audit {costs|is|will cost} {just over|about|around} $400. {Depending on the|Based on the|The} {location|area} of your {commercial or residential|residential or commercial} {building, costs can vary|structure, the cost can differ|construction, the costs could vary} {greatly|significantly|dramatically}.
{The cost of an energy audit|Cost of an audit|An energy audit’s cost} {will vary|can vary|is dependent} {depending on whether it is|depending on whether it’s|in relation to whether it’s} {a residential or commercial property|commercial or residential property|commercial or residential}.
You {could be eligible|may be eligible|may qualify} {for energy rebates if you|to receive energy rebates if|for rebates on energy if you} {opt|decide|choose} to {have an audit done|conduct an audit|have an audit conducted}.
How long does it take to conduct Energy Audits?
{It depends on how large|It is contingent on how big|It’s all about how big} your {home is and|house is as well as|house is, as well as} {how many electronics and appliances|the amount of appliances and electronics|the number of appliances and electronic devices} {you have|you own|are in your home}. The {type of audit chosen|kind of audit you choose|type of audit selected} {and how many|and the number of|as well as the number of} {windows and doors are available|doors and windows are in use|windows and doors are accessible} {will also affect the|can also impact the amount of|will affect the length of} {time it takes to complete|duration of|length of time required to finish} {an energy audit|the energy audit|your energy assessment}. {A home energy audit usually|An energy audit for homes typically|A typical home energy audit} {takes three to four|lasts between three and four|will take between 3 and 4} hours.
How can Shneyder Solar audit energy use?
Shneyder Solar has their energy audits {completed|conducted|performed} by {licensed professionals, which|certified professionals, which|licensed professionals. This} {is different from home|differs from home|differs from home-based} audits. {A company audit is similar|An audit for companies is similar|A company audit is comparable} to {a home energy audit|an energy audit for homes} {in that it uses|in that it follows|by using} the same {process and checks|procedure and tests|method and examines} the same {categories|areas|types of}.
What is an Energy Audit Checklist?
{An energy audit checklist|A checklist for energy audits} is {used|utilized} {by|to assist|for} Shneyder Solar energy auditors {as well as|and} homeowners who {wish|want|would like} {to conduct their own home audit|do their own audit of the home|perform their own house audit}. The checklist {is a report|is a document|provides a report} {that lists all aspects|that includes all the aspects|which lists every aspect} of the {home or business|business or home|house or business} {that should be inspected|to be examined|which need to be checked}.
{You will most likely find|It is likely that you will find|You’ll likely see} these {categories|areas|sections} on {your energy audit checklist|the checklist for your energy audit|your checklist of energy audits}:
- Lighting
- Electric motors
- Air leakage
- Insulation
- Water heating
- Heating systems for {homes and businesses|businesses and homes|both businesses and homes.}
- {Cooling systems|Systems for cooling}
- Electronics
- {Doors and windows|Windows and doors}
- Habits
Is it worth doing an Energy Audit?
Yes{, energy audits can be| audits of energy efficiency can be| Energy audits are} {worth the effort|worthwhile}. You {can save up to|could save as much as|can save as much as} 30% {on|off} your energy {bills|costs} {by having|when you have} {an auditor from|the services of an auditing company like|one of the auditors from} Shneyder Solar assess the {efficiency|effectiveness} of your {home or business|business or home|house or business}. {Implementing the recommendations|Following the suggestions} of your auditor {can|could|will} {help you save between 5-30|assist you in saving between 5 and 30|aid you in saving 5-30}{% on energy costs| percent on your energy bills| percent on energy costs}. {You can also|Additionally, you can|It can also help} positively {impact the environment|affect the environment|improve the environmental impact} {by making these changes|by making these adjustments|through these improvements} and {reducing|reduce|cutting} carbon emissions.
An Energy Audit is an energy-saving endeavor
{An energy audit is necessary|A thorough energy audit is required|An energy audit is essential} to {find energy efficiency issues|identify energy efficiency issues|discover energy efficiency problems} and {potential energy-saving solutions|possible energy-saving options|solutions to save energy} {in a house or business|within a business or home|for a home or business}. {A detailed|An in-depth|A thorough} {energy audit report|analysis of energy consumption|assessment of your energy usage} will {reveal|show|highlight} {what appliances are using|which appliances are using|the appliances that are using up} more {electricity than they should|power than they need to|energy than they ought to}. This will {allow you to|help you|enable you to} {identify areas where|determine areas where|find areas that} you can {save electricity|reduce your electricity usage|cut down on electricity consumption} and {help you fight|aid in fighting|also help fight} {climate change|the effects of climate change|climate change}.
