As energy conservation becomes more and more of a priority for homeowners, many people are opting to receive home energy assessments--also frequently called home energy audits. There are steps you can take to assess the level of energy consumption in your home and identify opportunities to reduce it. However, a professional energy auditor may be able to more closely hone in on the problems and target the areas where energy saving is most possible.
Whether you take the DIY route or hire an expert, a home energy assessment is important for several reasons--here are five of them:
1. Save money! Many people take the energy efficient route because they believe it will save them money, and in the long run, they're absolutely right. Installing a programmable thermostat that switches into conservation mode when you're not at home; getting better insulation in your attic; putting in new, energy-smart windows…all of these actions will, in time, save you money.
2. Earn money! Another reason many people receive home energy audits is because it makes them eligible for rebates of some kind. Whether from a governmental rebate program, your power company or the manufacturer of an Energy Star appliance you recently purchased, rebates from anywhere are appreciated and a great way to cushion the cost of making energy-saving upgrades.
3. Enhance your level of comfort. If you have drafty windows or doors, you know they can be uncomfortable in colder months. Livable attic and basement space is often difficult to equally heat or cool alongside the rest of the home. Keeping your home more consistently comfortable, and doing so in a manner that doesn't waste energy and money, is one of the greatest benefits that comes from making changes based on a home energy assessment.
4. Professional home energy assessments vary depending on who performs them, but comprehensive audits will include things such as carbon monoxide testing; checking of the ducts; inspection for mold or moisture in the home; and the inspection of the home's ventilation. If problems are found, they are not only energy inefficient, they can also be dangerous to you and your family. Potential safety threats found in a home energy audit should be dealt with immediately.
5. If you're planning to rent, sell or make improvements to your home, a home energy assessment is a wonderful idea. If you have dated appliances, a hot water heater or an HVAC system that will likely need replacing regardless, do so with an energy efficient model. For whatever reason you're planning to make upgrades, it is most sensible to do so with energy efficiency in mind.
While home energy assessments may seem superfluous, they offer a valid, solid foundation on which you can make an action plan for saving money, improving the comfort of your home and ultimately making your property safer and more valuable. You don't necessarily have to spend thousands of dollars and months of time making all the energy efficient improvements you need simultaneously. But, as a homeowner, it is wise to know where the problems and challenges lay and have a course of action in place to resolve them.
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Do you have questions about home energy assessments and how to make your property more energy efficient? If so, visit http://www.3ves.com/ - a premier Atlanta home energy assessment specialist who can answer all your inquiries.
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