An energy audit will help you prioritize the upgrades you may want to implement in your home in terms of which upgrades will be most cost effective and have the fastest return on your investment. With a $2,000 budget, there are likely several projects you could take on to lower your utility bills and make your home more comfortable.

For a general idea of what an auditor may suggest, try out our online energy audit tool. This will ask you questions about your home and then give your home an efficiency score. It will also give you a few upgrade suggestions.

In the Raleigh area, energy auditors typically charge around $350 for a comprehensive energy audit. While this may seem like a significant portion of your budget, it will be well worth it because it will maximize the amount you save on your utilities. Typically, homeowners lower their energy bills by 30 percent, which means a savings of $2,700 over three years for the average homeowner.