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I’ve been writing about energy efficiency and renewable energy for years now. It’s something I truly believe in and it makes me feel good to write about it. Why? Because I feel like, in some small way, I’m doing my part to help save the world. I’m telling people how to be more energy efficient and I’m propelling products that will help them do that. By using less energy, they’ll create less pollution, which will collectively contribute to the health of our planet. How often can an advertising copywriter really say, “I’m saving the world?!” Exactly.

But just because I believe in green, doesn’t mean I’m made of it. Like most people, when it comes to personal energy efficiency and eco-awareness, I do what I can. I turn off lights at home, and to the frustration of some co-workers, around the office. I use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). I have a low-flow showerhead. I use a SmartStrip for my entertainment center electronics to reduce phantom load and have ENERGY STAR^® qualified appliances. I have a programmable thermostat. There’s more, but you get the point. Add it all up and I’m probably more energy efficient than the average bear, but there’s always room for improvement. No pun intended.

Something that’s been on my to-do list for quite a while is a home energy audit. Well, many, many home improvement projects later (the home is quite the fixer-upper) I finally made it happen on Earth Day ’09.

I have a 60-year-old Cape Cod. So when it came to my home’s efficiency challenges, I wanted to know—and I didn’t want to know.

I found my consultant through Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative. Tom from 5 Star Energy walked around the inside and outside of my house to get the lay of the land, and then began to set up for the test. If you’re not familiar with a home energy audit, here’s what happens:

Combustion safety test – Using a continuous sampling instrument, the consultant measures CO parts per million (ppm) in the flue gases of your furnace and water heater. This makes sure your water heater and furnace are drafting properly. It they’re not, you could have dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home. While testing the combustion safety, your consultant will also measure the efficiency of your heating equipment.

Building Air Tightness – The consultant sets up a blower door. This tool lowers the air pressure inside your home. Because the air pressure outside is now higher, air is drawn into your home through all unsealed openings. Sometimes, the consultant will use a smoke pencil to show you the leaks, but often you can actually FEEL the air rushing in or see cobwebs moving. The blower door equipment will measure your air leakage in cubic feet per minute (cfm). A home’s air leakage number should be about equal to its square footage.

Ventilation – Using a balometer, the consultant measures the volumetric flow of your kitchen and bath fans in cubic feet per minute (cfm). This ensures that they’re powerful enough to remove moisture from your home and for your room sizes.

Insulation – The consultant will examine the box sills in your basement and your walls and attic to determine the presence and level of existing insulation. To determine the presence and level of insulation in exterior walls, the consultant may use either an infrared camera or drill holes and use a wall probe. If necessary, you’ll receive recommendations for increasing insulation levels.

After the inspection and all tests are complete, you’ll receive a detailed report of your home’s performance. The report will pinpoint exactly where your home is inefficient, and explain exactly how to fix the issues. It will also include a list of recommended contractors. These contractors have gone through training on Home Performance with ENERGY STAR^® and know the program standards; so you know the work will be done correctly.

Now that I have my home’s efficiency report, I actually feel empowered. I know my home inside and out and I have a surprisingly short list of projects to tackle. If I decide to involve contractors, I know EXACTLY what to ask for, so I won’t get talked into anything I don’t need. Plus, I’ll know they’re reputable, because my consultant has recommended them.

I can’t think of a better way to spend an Earth Day.

Energy audits can be conducted on homes and businesses. Obviously, the opportunity for savings is even greater in the commercial arena. Visit these pages within energystar.gov to find more information on having your home or business energy audited.

Oh, before you click away, I suppose you might be curious as to how my home did on the energy efficiency test. Well…

The good news is that I actually have insulation in ALL of my sidewalls; my heating equipment is drafting properly with a very safe CO ppm that’s remarkably low for the age of the equipment and state of my chimney; my windows are surprisingly tight, for being older; my attic is fairly well insulated, with just a couple of areas that need attention; and my water heater is operating at .59 energy factor—.64 is the recommendation.

The (not so) bad news is that my home’s air leakage is three times what it should be. It should match my square footage (1,200 s.f.), but it’s at 2,983. This is easily fixed—and I can do a lot of it myself.  Also, my furnace is operating at less than 80% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). It’s should be 90+ AFUE. No surprise. It’s 13 years old. Like anyone, I’ll replace it when I need to. 

Categories: Diana Bagley, Green Home Improvement