Conduct an Energy Audit to Determine Where You Can Save
The first step in preparing to save energy this winter is to find out where you are losing energy—and money. Energy audits can be conducted in homes, apartments, multi-family homes, and small businesses. An audit will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money over time.
Homes and Apartments
- Get a professional energy audit or conduct your own.
Do-It-Yourself:
- The Home Energy Saver auditing tool can help you conduct your own energy audit.
- Apartment dwellers, find out what you can do to make your home more energy efficient.
Professional:
- Your utility might offer free or discounted energy audits—contact them first to find out.
- Find a professional auditor in the Certified Rater Directory from the Residential Energy Services Network.
- Then implement the findings from the audit with low-cost or no-cost improvements, or consider making a long-term investment for energy savings.
Multifamily Homes
- For multifamily homes, determine where you could make the most cost-effective energy efficiency improvements.
- Use the Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor Multifamily Building Calculator to find potential costs and savings of making your multifamily building more efficient (especially during a remodeling project).
- Then implement the findings from the audit with low-cost or no-cost improvements, or consider making a long-term investment for energy savings.
Small Businesses
- Find state and local efficiency programs to help you conduct an energy audit and save energy at your business.
- Determine areas where you can save energy in your workplace.
- Use the Office Energy Checklist to take simple measures to save energy.
- Use the Small Business Guide to Energy Efficiency to learn how to save energy and money and where to find assistance.
