Anytime you make a big investment in heating and cooling equipment, or if you just want to find ways to save money, it’s a good idea to have an energy audit. An audit will find areas in your Denver home that are in need of energy efficiency upgrades, which in turn will allow your new heating system to not have to work as hard. A lot of these measures, such as adding insulation, air sealing and upgrading your ductwork, are relatively cheap and have a big impact on your heating and cooling bills.

An energy audit is basically a series of tests done in your home to figure out how well your home’s exterior shell, heating and cooling equipment, and appliances are performing in terms of efficiency. One common test an energy auditor will perform is a blower door test, which will depressurize your home by blowing air out your front door. As the pressure in your home drops, air from outside will begin to seep in through any leaky areas around your windows, doors and exterior outlets. The contractor makes the seeping air visible with a colored smoke, and then seals up these leaks with caulk and other sealants.

Your auditor will treat your home as an integrated system to figure out what the most effective upgrades will be in your home. After analyzing your home, he or she will provide you with a report that gives you recommended upgrades with the most cost-effective upgrades at the top.

To get an idea of what your auditor may suggest, check out our free online energy audit tool. This quick and easy energy calculator will ask you a few questions about your home and then give you an estimate on how much you can save as well as a few suggestions on improvements you may want to make.

Energy audits in the Denver area typically charge around $300 for an energy audit, but through the Recharge Colorado program, you can receive an energy audit rebate of up to $100.