Understanding the Energy Audit: Why it’s worth doing?
Energy audits are readily available to everyone, however only a only a few opt to have one. The majority of people aren’t aware about the advantages they offer or their existence.
Only 9% of those who responded to the 2020 survey from the Department of Technology and Society, Stony Brook University, New York had ever undergone an energy audit.
An energy audit could really help you minimize your carbon footprint through finding areas of your home and industrial structures that are wasting energy. You could also save money and time on costs for energy by reducing your consumption of energy.
This guide will provide the basics of an energy audit, the ways it can aid you in saving on energy, and how it can aid you in assessing the environmental impact of your home.
What is an Energy Audit?
A commercial or residential building is subject to an energy audit to determine the efficiency of its use. Energy efficiency simply means that you consume less energy to accomplish the same job. This audit will give you an in-depth analysis of the use of electricity and efficiency of power.
Audit reports offer crucial information regarding your energy consumption as well as your Energy Star rating. This will help you to pinpoint and fix any issues with energy consumption in order to reduce the cost of electricity. Before you implement any renewable energy system it’s best to conduct the energy audit.
Who performs an Energy Audit?
A registered energy auditor or an energy auditor Energy Advisor with Texas Solar Group will conduct a home or business energy audit. Texas Solar Group energy auditors are also able to conduct energy efficiency assessments for commercial and noncommercial building.
What happens during an Energy Audit?
An energy audit has three parts of testing, evaluation and suggestions for effectiveness.
When the audit is complete The auditor of Texas Solar Group will give you a report detailing energy consumption and a final energy rating. There are also home improvement suggestions that can be made to lower energy costs.
The Evaluation
An energy auditor from Texas Solar Group registered with the government will come to your house or office to conduct an audit of your energy usage. This will determine how much energy you use and any areas of concern.
During their walk-through , they’ll analyze specific aspects that affect the efficiency of your business’s energy use.
Texas Solar Group auditors will examine your heating systems, which are also known in HVAC units, and the insulation levels. Underground walls, and attic walls are included. They will also count the number of doors and windows in your house.
Airtightness and Other Tests
The air tightness or blower door testing is the 2nd component of an energy audit. The energy auditor of Texas Solar Group will check for air leakage in buildings or homes in this phase of an audit. The airtightness test is an air sealing process. Texas Solar Group auditor will seal the building’s front door and install a massive fan inside.
The fan draws the indoor air out of the building. This causes outside air to move through any holes and cracks. These air leaks can often be felt with your hands however Texas Solar Group auditors will make use of incense and feathers to identify the exact location.
Texas Solar Group energy auditor will conduct a thermographic analysis of your business or home to determine its energy usage. They will also use various energy consumption tools to gauge energy consumption such as surface thermometers and infrared cameras.
Texas Solar Group auditor will also look over utility bills from the past.
Recommendations for improving energy efficiency
Once your residential or commercial building has been inspected and checked, Texas Solar Group energy auditor will give you an extensive list of improvements to energy efficiency you can take. Most of these recommendations can help you reduce your utility bills if implemented.
Why is an Energy Audit Important?
A routine energy audit will aid you in reducing your carbon footprint, save energy and be efficient. Here are a few of the reasons an energy audit is important:
- An energy audit will help you find energy-saving opportunities.
- This will enable you to better understand and plan your energy consumption.
- An energy audit will help you identify safety issues with wiring, ventilation and electrical systems. This can ensure that your business or home is more secure.
- It will increase the value of the home.
- An energy audit can assist you in determining how to reduce carbon monoxide levels in your homes and businesses.
Are there different types of Energy Audits?
There are two kinds of energy audits one that is a preliminary and the other an additional one. The needs of your business will determine the type of audit you choose.
Preliminary energy audit: This exercise is a gathering of data procedure that offers an initial analysis. This type of audit is often done by the auditor via an investigation that is a walk-through. Texas Solar Group energy auditor who is a professional uses readily available information and the limited diagnostic tools available for conducting a preliminary audit.
Energy audits in detail: A professional auditor from Texas Solar Group will conduct this type of audit. They will monitor, analyze, and verify energy usage to determine areas that are in need of improvement and recommend ways to improve energy efficiency. The report’s technical content will contain their suggestions and conclusions. A professional auditor of energy of Texas Solar Group can also use sophisticated instrumentation including an scanner or flue gas analyzer as well as a flow meter, to conduct a thorough analysis of your consumption of energy.
How do I conduct an Energy Audit of my own home?
You can do yourself a DIY energy audit on your home if you don’t have the budget to hire a professional auditor from Texas Solar Group.
You can keep a list of areas that you have reviewed, and note of any problems. This will allow you to prioritize the energy efficiency upgrades that you need to take into consideration.
Do-it-yourself energy audits aren’t as reliable and trustworthy as professional services. If you’re not sure about how to identify or fix the issue, it’s recommended to seek out a professional.
Step 1: Identify any air leaks. First, find any air-conditioned areas that are not properly ventilated. Air leaks are common among gates, window frames as well as electrical outlet. If you notice the leak, close it using weather-stripping or caulk.
Step 2: Assess the ventilation in your home. If you’ve discovered any air leaks in your house, it’s time to assess your ventilation systems. You should ensure that you have a safe and adequate supply of air, especially if you use fuels like propane, natural gas, or wood.
Step Three: Check your insulation levels. This step is easy. It’s a straightforward process. You’ll need to check the insulation levels in your attic, and around the cooling and heating systems. In winter, the energy use increases when there isn’t enough insulation.
Step Four: Evaluate your lighting. Although it might not seem like much however, lighting has a significant impact on the cost of your energy. It is possible to switch to LEDs or energy-saving bulb incandescents (CFLs) and reduce your energy costs.
Step 5: Take a look at your electronics and appliances. Appliances that are energy efficient are among the most efficient ways to save energy within your home. It’s essential to consider the type of electronics and appliances you have when performing your energy assessment. Are they Energy Star-certified? Are they older or less effective?
Are Energy Audits Free?
A few utility programs and energy service providers provide homeowners a no-cost energy audit. The above low-cost energy audits typically don’t provide specific information and will only give general estimates of your building’s energy consumption. The free energy audits don’t provide tailored energy-saving solutions.
What Should an Energy Audit Cost?
Based on the area of your residential or commercial construction, the costs could vary significantly.
Cost of an audit will vary depending on whether it is commercial or residential property.
You may be eligible for energy rebates if you opt to have an audit conducted.
How long does it take to conduct Energy Audits?
It depends on how large your house is, as well as the number of appliances and electronic devices you own. The kind of audit you choose as well as the number of windows and doors are available can also impact the amount of time it takes to complete your energy assessment. A typical home energy audit takes three to four hours.
How can Texas Solar Group audit energy use?
Texas Solar Group has their energy audits conducted by licensed professionals, which differs from home audits. An audit for companies is similar to an energy audit for homes in that it uses the same method and examines the same categories.
What is an Energy Audit Checklist?
A checklist for energy audits is used to assist Texas Solar Group energy auditors and homeowners who want to conduct their own home audit. The checklist provides a report that lists all aspects of the house or business that should be inspected.
You will most likely find these areas on your checklist of energy audits:
- Lighting
- Electric motors
- Air leakage
- Insulation
- Water heating
- Heating systems for both businesses and homes.
- Cooling systems
- Electronics
- Windows and doors
- Habits
Is it worth doing an Energy Audit?
Yes, energy audits can be worth the effort. You could save as much as 30% off your energy bills by having an auditor from Texas Solar Group assess the effectiveness of your house or business. Implementing the recommendations of your auditor will aid you in saving 5-30% on energy costs. It can also help positively impact the environment by making these changes and reducing carbon emissions.
An Energy Audit is an energy-saving endeavor
An energy audit is necessary to identify energy efficiency issues and solutions to save energy for a home or business. A thorough assessment of your energy usage will reveal what appliances are using more energy than they ought to. This will enable you to determine areas where you can reduce your electricity usage and aid in fighting the effects of climate change.
