An Energy Audit is a visual and diagnostic assessment of a home, and while its focus is on the performance of a homes thermal boundary and mechanical systems, in actuality this is and should be the lowest priority of a good energy auditor. The highest priority is given to health and safety of the occupants. Any Energy Audit that does not deal with, gas leaks, Carbon Monoxide, combustion analysis, draft of combustion appliances, or any other health and safety issues is, in my opinion incomplete. So when you are calling for an energy audit, ask what kind of testing is performed on combustion appliances.

After Health and Safety.....Durability. How was the home built, are their external forces that are degrading the structure that in time will effect the safety and value of the home? I am talking about moisture, mold, cracks in the foundation, inadequate drainage, leaky roofs, failing drywall, etc. Do these things effect energy efficiency? Yes, but more immediately, they effect the soundness of the structure and should be pointed out to the homeowner. When you call to book an energy audit, ask about the scope of the inspection. Will they be going into the attic, and crawlspace, will they be looking at the foundation and the roof?

Last but not least is energy efficiency. In many ways, this is the easiest part of the assessment. And can often start before the auditor arrives at the home.Utility bills are one of the best ways to get a high level view of a homeowners actual usage. They are a great starting point to get an idea of where energy is being used and how much.

Thoroughly inspecting the thermal boundary is always the the first step. This is usually done with pressure testing. aka a blower door test, calibrated manometer, smoke stick and/ or a thermal camera.

Next are the homes systems.

(1) Hot Water Heaters: besides combustion testing, an audit should test for spillage and draft, the water temperature and whether their is sediment in the tank. The audit will also take into account how old the waterh heater is.

(2) HVAC systems: This is a tough one. A qualified HVAC technician is always more qualified to assess the efficiency and functionality of a Furnace or HVAC system. But there are things that a Energy Auditor can do to help the homeowner make good decisions. You should ask whether the auditor does an external static pressure test on the system? Whether they count the supply and return registers to be sure that the distribution side of the system is adequate and offer a duct leakage test using a pressure pan or duct blaster? Finally, do they look at the thermostat? These are all things that an auditor can do to help determine if a HVAC system is working optimally or properly sized.

The job of the Energy Auditor is to present the homeowner with a comprehensive, prioritized and practical path to achieve better energy efficiency.

Jason Dittmer
Dwelltek