To get a general idea of how your New York home is performing and what projects an auditor may suggest, use our online energy audit tool - a quick and easy way to find out how your home compares to your neighbors. Not only will it give you a list of recommended upgrades, but you'll also find out how much money you can save by making your more more efficient.

Unless you're a certified professional with the proper equipment, it would be really difficult to audit your own home. There are a lot of tests a professional auditor will perform on different areas of your home to determine what upgrades could be made to improve efficiency. One example is a blower door test, which is used to identify the air leaks in your home. In order to perform the test, you'd need to have a blower door.

Most auditors also do infrared scans to test the level of insulation in your walls and attic. Another example is a combustion test, which is used to test your heating and cooling equipment to determine how efficient they are running.

Typically, energy auditors in the New York area charge around $400 for a 2,000 square foot home, which is much cheaper than having to buy all the proper testing equipment. Additionally, some contractors will offer to apply that upfront cost toward any upgrades you decide to have completed in your home. Once the upgrades are complete, a typical U.S. household can save around $700 on their utility bills in the first year.