Insulation offers resistance to heat flow and significantly reduces heating and cooling costs. It also increases home or business value, making it an excellent investment.
During an energy audit, trained professionals examine past energy bills and conduct a room-by-room inspection to locate air leaks and other energy drains. Recommendations can include simple, low-cost suggestions like changing light bulbs or resealing windows.
Insulation
When you want to increase the energy efficiency of your home or business, one of the first steps is to have an energy audit done. Energy audits can determine how much insulation is needed, as well as identify areas of air leakage that need to be addressed.
An energy audit also includes a safety check on heating and hot water equipment to ensure that they are operating correctly and that combustion exhaust gases are not leaking into the building. Additionally, it can include tests to measure indoor humidity levels and air quality.
Energy auditors use a variety of tools, including thermal imaging cameras and blower door testers to evaluate a property’s current insulation levels and their quality of installation. These tools help the auditor find problem areas, such as leaking air ducts, poorly sealed windows and doors and poor insulation in walls and attics. They can also recommend projects that will improve a property’s comfort, such as adding insulation and sealing and caulking leaks. These types of projects will increase a property’s value, and will pay for themselves through lower utility bills.
Air Leakage
An energy audit is an essential tool that can help lower industrial energy costs. Many businesses have significant energy expenses that can be lowered significantly by increasing insulation and other measures. These upgrades will have a high initial cost, but they will save money over time. Moreover, they will reduce the impact on the environment and decrease the load on the energy infrastructure.
During an energy audit, a professional will examine the building envelope and assess insulation levels. They will also test the heating and cooling systems to ensure they are operating efficiently. They will also inspect the ductwork and check for leaks. These tests can help identify areas of energy loss and recommend necessary repairs.
The energy auditor will then write a report detailing the opportunities for home improvement. These recommendations can be implemented by a contractor or by the homeowner. Ultimately, implementing the recommendations will result in reduced energy usage and a more comfortable home. With energy prices on the rise, every therm of natural gas or electrical watt that isn’t used saves money.
Condensation
An energy audit can identify areas where a home or commercial building wastes energy, which can help owners lower their energy bills and use less fossil fuel-based electricity. It is also an excellent way to check if insulation has been installed correctly, and if it is, whether it’s positioned evenly around the ceiling and walls.
To conduct a blower-door test, the auditor closes all but one of the building’s windows and fireplace dampers, seals off most of the door frame except for one side of the door, then installs a large fan that’s able to draw air out of the building. This unbalances the pressure between the interior and exterior, making leaks easier to detect. The auditor can also use smoke pens to find leaks, which emit small puffs of smoke that react with the movement of air.
The scope of a residential energy audit may include recommendations for lighting upgrades, installing smart thermostats, upgrading to ENERGY STAR appliances, replacing ductwork, adding weather stripping, and adding insulation. The results of a business energy audit will vary, but may include interviews with facility operating personnel, an assessment of past energy bills and an analysis of short and long-term energy consumption patterns.
R-Value
The R-Value measures the insulating effectiveness of a building material. Its insulating value depends on the density of the material and its thickness. The higher the R-Value, the better it is at preventing heat loss and cold air leakage.
Most insulation works by trapping small pockets of air. Since still air is a poor conductor of heat, it takes longer for the hot or cold outside or inside air to pass through these pockets. As a result, the temperature of the insulated surface stays constant, reducing energy losses and costs.
Energy auditors often use thermographic inspections to spot leaks and insufficient insulation. These inspections involve examining the building’s interior and exterior walls with infrared cameras that can “see” temperatures. Infrared images display warmer areas as red or orange, and cooler areas as blue or purple. Thermographic inspections are commonly conducted simultaneously with blower-door tests to maximize air flow.
Ielmini says many building owners don’t fully appreciate the value of Mechanical Insulation until they see a detailed energy audit that shows how much money they can save with more efficient insulation methods. He calls it a “jaw-dropping experience” for building managers to realize the impact of improved insulation.
Cost
While energy audits are an excellent investment in reducing energy costs and making a building more environmentally friendly, they can be costly to perform. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce the cost of an energy audit. First, consider the type of energy assessment that you need. For example, a basic level zero energy assessment is less expensive than a more detailed audit.
Another way to save money on an energy assessment is by focusing on the areas that use the most energy in your home. This can be done by examining your heating, cooling, and electronics equipment. For example, a heat pump that is not functioning properly can consume more energy than necessary.
Additionally, you should examine the thermal boundary and insulation levels in the attic, basement, and around pipes. Insulation that is eroded or pulling away from the wall can also be a source of energy loss. Moreover, you should inspect your air conditioning ducts for leaks. Performing these simple repairs can help you significantly lower your electricity bills.