Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit
Almost half the energy you use at home goes toward heating and cooling—but as much as a third of that energy may be slipping through windows, doors, and other cracks, wasting money and needlessly increasing your carbon footprint. With colder temperatures on the way, now is a good time to find and fix trouble spots with just a modest investment of time and materials. Here are three areas for improvement:
Air leaks. Drafts can be found around windows, doors, electrical outlets, air conditioners, and openings for pipes, wires, and ducts.
- Hold burning incense or a tool called a smoke pencil near potential trouble spots and look for smoke movement. Or just hold up a dampened hand; you’ll feel cool air.
- Seal gaps with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping to reduce energy losses by 5 to 30 percent.
Insulation. Whether it takes the form of rolls, batts, rigid boards, loose fill, or spray foam, insulation is critical to preventing heat transfer between conditioned spaces (like your living room) and unconditioned spaces (the outdoors, an attic or unheated basement). Insulation is rated by R-value; higher numbers mean better insulating ability.
- Check your attic first, since it is often the greatest source of heat loss. If your current insulation is level with or below the floor joists, add more. See the Related Resources for instructions on checking insulation inside walls.
- For most attics, R-38 insulation (approximately 12 to 15 inches thick) is sufficient; colder climates may require up to R-60. See the Related Resources for recommended insulation levels in your area. Insulating hot water pipes can also save on water heating costs.
Ducts. Homes with forced-air heating and cooling systems may lose up to 20 percent of their conditioned air because of poorly sealed or uninsulated ducts—particularly those in an unconditioned garage, attic, or basement.
- Coat ducts with soapy water; bubbles indicate leaks.
- Seal joints and obvious holes with duct mastic (a type of cement) or foil tape (regular duct tape cannot withstand temperature fluctuations) and insulate with rigid fiberboard.
If your home is still chilly or drafty after making these fixes, consider getting a professional audit, which uses more advanced methods for detecting heat loss. Some states offer low- or no-cost audits as well as rebates on home energy upgrades.
