Energy Efficient is My Home in need of an Energy Audit

Energy Efficient is My Home in need of an Energy Audit, this is a question that I'm ask by many homeowners. I have even had Home Buyers Call and E-Mail asking if they should have an Energy Audit performed on the home they are looking to buy.

Virtually all homes can stand to gain from some form of energy efficiency improvement. However, in general, older homes are significantly more inefficient than newer ones. To be more specific, those who stand to gain the most from an Energy Audits being are.

• Folks that are interested in purchasing a new home.

• Homeowners interested in adding value to their homes.

• Homeowners with homes 10 years or older.

• Homeowners who notice a variance in temperatures from one area or room to another in their home.

• Homeowners who suspect that their homes are losing air (and Energy) but can’t definitively identify the source or the cause. (who want to promote more even and comfortable temperature throughout their home).

• Homeowners who want to do their part to improve their environment, and/or reduce their carbon foot-print.

• Any homeowner who just wants to save money on energy costs.

Energy Efficient is My Home in need of an Energy Audit, in addition, if you are purchasing a new home, there are several reasons you might want consider a thorough Energy Audit being conducted of the property you are interested in buying.

• Given the dramatic seasonal variances in New Hampshire, recent energy bills of those selling the home can often paint a very misleading picture regarding the reality of the property’s overall Energy Efficiency.

• The information gathered by a Home Energy Audit can give you a distinct advantage when negotiating the terms of the purchase.

• There are numerous Mortgage Lenders who reward homeowners who have had their homes tested for Energy Efficiency.

The fact is, almost all homes can benefit from conducting a Home Energy Audit or take steps towards ensuring a home  is Energy Efficient. Given and all that folks stand to gain, there is virtually no viable real reason to not have a Home Energy Audit in this day and age.

Energy Efficient is My Home in need of an Energy Audit, Home Air Leaks - almost all households across our Great Country leaks enough air that can fill up three to four Goodyear Blimps each hour. All the air leaks through the windows , doors, recessed lights and the attic access are responsible for high energy bills.

A home's Basement - Not all areas of our Great Country have Basements and not all homes have a Basement even in areas which there are a lot Home Basements, but for those homes which do. Hot air generated by boiler raise temperature of your home and into the attic through leakage. This makes a home feel drafty and cause high energy bills. Rim joist air sealing is especially important at bump out areas such as bay windows that hang over the foundation.

Home Cellar Doors - Cellar door, also known as, Basement Door, a Bulkhead, a Cellar Door, or a Bilco door, are one of the main sources of moisture in basements. A Cellar Door sure is responsible for the "stack effect" in your home.

Energy Efficient is My Home in need of an Energy Audit, Home's Crawlspace - A Crawlspace sure is an area that homeowners don't visit very often. But this is an area that venture into your home in the form of cold air, moisture, mold, and mildew. IF a rim joist is leaky, than it will allow warm air to come inside during the summer causing moisture and cold air in during the winter causing discomfort.

Drafty Doors and Windows - Doors and Windows sure are inherently deficient in their R-values. A single pane of glass has an R-value of 1, wood doors have an R-value of 2.5, and insulated metal doors have R-values that range from 6-10. The real trouble with windows and doors is not the material used but recklessly they are installed in the framed with rough opening. The gaps that are left around windows,doors and were never sealed properly.

Plumbing Penetrations - If plumbing penetrations which are properly fitted in the existing wall are major cause of exaggerating the stack effect.

A Home's Chimney and Flue Chase - Whenever cavity of Chimney/Flue Chase is heated, the air rises into the attic, turning the shaft into a chimney for the home's conditioned air.

Recessed Lights in areas of a Home - As per US Census Bureau, there are around 300 million recessed light fixtures have been installed in American homes which caused serious degradation to your home's energy efficiency. The average home has the equivalent of a 2 foot-square hole in the ceiling from recessed lights through which warm air can leak out through from a home's the attic.

A Home's Attic Access - Most home's attic access doors and hatches are neither insulated nor air tight. This lack of insulation and air sealing allows heat to escape up into the attic in the winter and brings hot air in during summer.

Dirty Insulation in a Home - Insulation with dark coloration indicates dirt collected by the insulation as air passes through it. Insulation with dark coloration sure is an indication of air.

Missing Home Insulation - Improperly insulated or completely un-insulated areas of your home cause colder rooms in the Fall and Winter Months, hotter rooms in the Summer Months, and responisble for extremely high energy bills. The easiest and most cost-effective way to insulate your home is in the attic.

Dropped Soffits and Dropped Ceilings - Generally, builders more focuses on air leakage through windows, doors, and walls. Many of these key areas are hidden from view and are not air sealed or insulated properly.

Air Handlers in an Attic - Air handlers installed in attics that typically reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit put a strain on your air conditioning unit are responsible higher electric bills and shorten the life of your equipment.

Energy Audits is My Home in need of an Energy Audit, A Home's Heating System - A normal residential heating systems of United States, generally have a heat capacity ranging between 1.5 to 2 times which is larger than that needed to maintain room temperature even on extremely cold days. Due to this over sizing of the heating system, the burner will cycle on and off repeatedly to prevent overheating of the system.

Inductive Motor Loads and Electricity - Your electric provider sells 3.2 kilowatt hours of energy to use 1 kilowatt-hour in your home. This loss is attributed to the resistance and heat which is generated as electricity travels over transmission lines and into inductive motors in our homes. These motors have coils of copper wire that receive an electrical current to produce an electro-magnetic field to turn the shaft inside the motor.

Have a good one
Dale in New Hampshire

Thank you mighty kindly for stopping by to visit, read and leaving a comment on this here blog post!


Localism information by Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections blog post 1,699- Posted on the 5th of June 2012 at 7:29 P.M. Eastern Time -  New Hampshire

Click here to Explore New Hampshire

Click the link below to visit the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation

Within my little ole blogging home stead, you'll find Helpful Tips, Events taking place in New Hampshire and Vermont, plus Relocation Information for both States.


When looking for a Energy Audit or Commercial Property Inspection Company in New Hampshire, then call Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections, which is the Company that cares about folks!

 

Disclaimer: The information herein may come from various sources, deemed reliable, it could very well change without any kind of notice. Dale Baker does not guarantee or is not in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and the information provided is without any kind of warranties, either express or implied. This here blog is not at all intended to offer folks any kind of Legal, Tax or other such advice. The information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments left by others may not express the views of the author. Dale Baker Owner: Baker Home Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections. Copyright 2012 By Dale Baker-all rights reserved.

Copyright photos, Graphics and Videos by Dale Baker, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without the written permission of Baker Home Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections. If Permission is granted, you will need to link back to my blog providing your site is appropriate for all ages. Property and Copyright 1980-2012 by Baker Home Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections. Thank you mighty kindly for respecting my creative expression and not plagiarizing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Thank You Mighty Kindly for visiting my little ole Blogging homestead!

You're sure the most important person in the world to me! Come back often, and bring your family and friends! This here little ole blogging homestead was first started by me back in May 2007

 

 

 

 

 

(An important note to the general public: I have had for the time being set my blog posts where the public Non-Members of the ActiveRain community, are not able to leave comments on my blog posts. Our blogging community is under attack by many Spammers. I'm truly sorry to have to take this action!)

 

Please know understand that this action was also taken in order for your safety!

 

Please do keep visiting and reading my blog posts!

 

Thank you, for being understanding about this action that I've taken! 

Have a good one

Dale in New Hampshire

 

Posted at: Localism.com/neighbor/bakerhome

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------