Often
in our lives, we can forget exactly how much power we’re consuming only to
remember when a big bill comes in the mail. A home energy audit is important
not only for your pocket but also for the environment. This energy audit makes
your home more energy efficient as it explains how much power different
appliances are using. You can upgrade the appliances to more energy-efficient
models and save a lot of money on energy bills. It also helps in pointing out
the inefficiency of your home’s energy usage.
It’s
best to have a commercial electrician conduct this home energy
audit, as they have all the needed tools and expertise to examine energy
consumption perfectly. They can also suggest different ways to save energy.
But
there are some ways in you can also conduct your own home energy audit. Following
are some things you can monitor and check to successfully conduct your own
energy audit:
Check your energy usage by comparing your bills
This is the easiest way to keep tabs on your energy consumption. For any
electric services, you receive a monthly electricity bill. You can get all the
detailed information about your power usage from it. When you compare the
energy usage of the last 12 months’ worth of bills, you will get an idea about
your energy consumption trends.
Any upward trajectory in consumption indicates potential energy
in efficiency. If your service provider doesn’t show it in your monthly bill,
then you can maintain a spreadsheet to keep an eye on it. You can also contact
your energy provider and inquire about the average consumption of households the
same size as yours.
Compare your power usage to the average in your area
Electricity is measured based on kilowatts per hour (kWh).
The best way to conduct a home energy audit by yourself is by comparing your
home’s usage with your area’s average. This comparison helps you to get an idea
of how your house consumption stands as compared to your neighbours. If your
findings result in daily usage of more than 10 kWh over the average of the area,
then it is a strong indication that you require a thorough energy audit
Identify high-usage appliances and replace them with more energy-efficient appliances
This point is a no brainer. Any old appliances in
your home such as an old refrigerator, television or air conditioning system
can eat a hole in your pocket by consuming more electricity. Upgrading them with
new appliances can be the best investment you can make. They will use less
electricity, so you can offset the cost of upgrading with savings on your power
bills.
Buy appliances with more Energy Ratings Stars and
take note of their usage criteria. You should also replace your old electric
oven or stove with microwave ovens as they consume less energy.
Optimise your lighting
We might not notice it, but the lighting of any
house can consume a considerable chunk of energy. If you are someone who hasn’t
updated their old bulbs with more energy-efficient options, such as LED
lighting, then your energy consumption may be on the higher side. Replacing all
old lightbulbs with LED lightings can make a big difference.
Also, install timer or sensor lights for outdoor
lightings as it helps to prevent unnecessary wastage of energy by leaving them
on when you don’t need to.
Optimise your heating and cooling systems
A major part of any energy bill consists of heating
and cooling systems. When you are conducting your audit, check your cooling and
heating system. If it is old, let's say more than 15 years old, then get it
replaced. An upgrade will help you in saving a lot in energy bills. Furthermore, check for any leaks in the ducts
of the house. Also, get your heating and cooling systems serviced periodically
from a professional electrician.
Optimising the insulation of your house
Insulation and ventilation of any house play a vital role when it comes
to reducing your overall energy bills. Shortcomings of any sort in the
insulation mean your cooling or heating system needs to exert more energy to
maintain the temperature. Draft-proof your house to avoid any kind of
temperature loss. Installing double
glazed windows helps in reflecting the heat from outside as well as maintaining
the temperature inside. You can also smartly use curtains and blinds to regulate
the house temperature properly.
Make use of cut-off switches and standby mode wherever possible
The
main purpose of a home energy audit is to identify appliances that are
energy consuming and find ways to reduce energy consumption. One of the most
useful ways to achieve your savings goal, is by using cut-off switches and
standby mode wherever possible. You can make use of it with your pool
temperature control, and cooling and heating systems, for instance. By setting
a particular time for them to turn on and turn off, you can avoid wasting
energy.
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