How To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Find Out Where YOUR Home is Losing Energy:

The best way to find out how to make your home more energy efficient is to schedule a home energy assessment. You will get a detailed, custom report that is based on a thorough examination of your home using diagnostic equipment, visual assessment by a certified, trained auditor who knows exactly what to look for, and an analysis of your energy bills. You will find out exactly where the problem areas are in your home, which areas are causing the most energy waste, and get specific recommendations for how to fix them.

If you're not ready to have a customized analysis, here are some generic ways to make your home more energy efficient.

Insulate your water heater and pipes. Your water heater is constantly heating water so it's hot when you need it. If your water heater is not insulated, the heat in the water dissipates into the air and the water cools, requiring more energy to keep the water hot. An insulated water heater keeps the heated water hot, requiring less energy.
Switch to a tank less water heater. As the name implies, a tank less water heater has no tank, so it isn't constantly heating water. Instead, it heats water on demand which is much more energy efficient.
Insulate air ducts. Your furnace (or central air conditioner) heats (or cools) air and pushes it through the ducts to the various parts of your home. Along the way, the air loses some of the heat (or cold), requiring the furnace (or air conditioner) to work harder in order to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. Insulated ductwork keeps more of the heat (or cold) from dissipating, so your furnace (or air conditioner) doesn't have to work as hard, which saves you energy - and money.
Get Low-E windows. Windows are a big source of energy loss from your home. However, modern technology has developed ways to reduce the energy lost through windows. Low-E windows reduce heat transfer, which keeps your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, putting less demand on your air conditioner and furnace. While Low-E windows cost more initially, you will save money in the long run with lower energy bills each month.
Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). Replacing the incandescent bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent light bulbs will save you 25 percent on your lighting costs, while providing the same amount of light. Newer CFL's provide softer light than the original CFL's, and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
Use ENERGY STAR appliances. Your fridge, stove, dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer use a lot of energy. By replacing your current appliances with ENERGY STAR rated appliances, you can save significant amounts of money each month.

Home Energy Problems & Solutions:

Reduce High Energy Bills Energy Efficiency, Home Improvement Tools
Drafty Rooms Air sealing, Heating and Cooling Contractor
Peeling Paint Control moisture, Building Science Specialist
Mold, Mildew or Musty Odors Reducing Indoor Humidity
Dust Sealing air leaks, Change Filters
Hot or Cold Rooms Room over a garage, ENERGY STAR ceiling fans
Damp Basement Stop water leaks, Ventilation Fans
Moisture on Windows Control Moisture, ENERGY STAR Labeled Windows
Dry Indoor Air in Winter Home Sealing, Diagnostic Equipment
Cold Floors in Winter Basement floor, Floor over a crawlspace
Ice Dams Roofing Contractor, Diagnostic Equipment

We were unaware of what was involved in an energy audit and your audior took the time to explain everything. We were impressed with the report which told us the areas in which we need to take action on. He never pressured us to use any particular contractors, he just suggested that we go to the Building Energy Pros web site to select contractors of our own choice. He did an excellent job and we HIGHLY recommend the Building Energy Pros. We already have recommended them to several of our neighbors. Again, EXCELLENT JOB!
Cynthia Simpson

The Building Energy Pros auditor was very knowledgeable. I was VERY HAPPY with him. He promptly E-mailed my energy audit report to me and I will consider all of his recommendations.
Tom McGee

We found out that our house really has no energy problems. We are happy to know that we
Leslie Stewart

I was very satisfied with your energy auditor. He was very qualified and spent a great deal of time with me. The energy audit was very informative.
P.B.

The energy auditor was very good and helpful. He keeps in touch with me to answer any of my questions.
D.G.

I was very satisfied with my energy audit. The auditor gave me some tips on attic insulation that were very helpful.
R.G.

I was very satisfied with my energy audit. Thank you!
R.S.

Very good service! I am going to replace the windows as the auditor had suggested.
D.W.

I was very happy with the energy audit. THANKS!
A. M.

My energy audit was very helpful. Joe Dempsey, your auditor, identified some structural problems that I was not aware of and explained to me why I need more insulation.
J. F.

The auditor was EXCELLENT! He spent ALOT of time with me. I am going to take 3 to 4 of his suggestions and correct these small items to save on my energy bills.
M. B.

The auditor did a GREAT JOB! He knew a lot about older homes, which we have. The report was very comprehensive. Thank you!
Vicki Nez/at

Your energy auditor was very nice and helpful. He answered all of our questions. We will recommend Building Energy Pros to our friends and neighbors.
Katherine McCaffrey

The auditor did a TERRIFIC JOB! The report was FANTASTIC! I will make all the repairs he suggested. I will definitely recommend him to everyone I know that could benefit from a home energy audit.
Steve Sleigh, Chevy Chase

The energy auditor was very professional and I am very satisfied with both the energy audit and the report I received. I will be referring the Building Energy Pros.
Tim Clary

I was very satisfied with the auditor. He was great and gave me some very valuable information. I will refer him to people I know who may need a home energy audit.
Willie Gantt

Your home energy audit proved to be very informative and helpful. I was not aware of the updraft created inside our walls because of the balloon framing construction. You said that that can cause heat to be pulled out of the house with the draft going up inside the walls and should be re-mediated. You also said that the attic insulation was insufficient and that fiberglass batts can leave spaces for around the edges causing heat loss and that it should have blown in insulation on top of what was there to seal the whole attic and increase the r factor. After going over your findings and telling me how you would fix the problems you told me how I could do it myself with stuff from the Home Center and for a quarter of the cost. Well, I did. I went into the basement and filled the bottom of the wall joist with unfaced insulation where they set on the sill plate. I then cut one inch foam board the size for each space and set it in and the sealed the edges of that with expanding foam as well as the sill plate to the foundation. I also sealed the sill plate to the foundation where the joist ran along it, as well as the top of those joist where it made contact with the subflooring. Next I went to the home center and rented their blown insulation machine and got ten bales of the insulation. I filled the attic on top of the batt insulation with about six inches giving another r-19 factor on top of the r-19 that was there. You said that the blown in would also help seal the heat loss around the edges of the batt. The work in the basement cost $144.00 and the work in the attic cost $328.00. After the 30% federal energy tax credit it will end up costing me about $330.00, which you said I should recover in savings in the first year. Thank You for all your advice and expertise. You made me aware of things I should consider and did.
Tommy Thompson