The place to begin when evaluating your home’s overall energy efficiency and deciding how to reduce consumption and utility costs is with a home energy audit. This takes into consideration much more than just your heating and cooling systems, and will give you a benchmark from which to make decisions and measure your energy saving progress.
Here are some of the heating & cooling factors your audit should take into consideration:
* Insulation in walls, floors, and attic.
* Vapor Barriers in walls
* Quality of Windows – Single or double pane
* Heat loss around doors and windows
* Quality of insulation in doors
* Integrity of ductwork – Any leaks
* Cleanliness of ductwork
* Use of “passive” solar energy
* Use of curtains and other window coverings to prevent heat loss
* Efficiency of heating and cooling systems – Condition of filters, etc.
Finally, find an energy auditor or get instructions on conducting your own at www.EnergySavers.gov/seasonal.