HOW DO I KNOW IF MY HOME IS ENERGY EFFICIENT? Written by Sean Welsh, Energy Resource Educator
Do you have high energy bills? An energy efficient home is kind to the occupant’s wallet and health and should be comfortable to live in. An in-efficient home with high electric and home heating fuel costs can add up over time, but there are other reasons to consider a home energy audit or assessment other than the positive financial ramifications. A home energy assessment can lead to improved comfort of your home by reducing drafts through air-sealing and adding insulation. Another positive impact that can come from an energy assessment is possible improvement of the home’s combustion appliances, like furnaces, stoves, boilers and gas lines, are operating safely and not letting dangerous fumes into the interior of a home. Impacts go beyond mitigating mechanical issues. Improved indoor air quality for the occupants will occur after an audit is completed and air sealing measures have been installed. These measures result in holes, gaps and cracks being sealed off, where outdoor air previously was able to penetrate the home, Page 6
bringing in unwanted cold or hot air, depending on the season, and also outdoor particles like road dust, and fumes from passing vehicles. Pests can also be closed off from entering the home once gaps and cracks are filled, keeping unwanted insects and vermin from getting in! Having the assessment helps stop air penetrations, and contractors arrive at your home looking for ways to help consumers consider a number of different strategies to help lower energy bills. Even if you have had a well-insulated home over the years and are confident in the amount of insulation and air sealing you have in your walls, over time insulation can lose R-value, and can settle in your walls Extension Connection
August 2021
and attics. Having a home energy assessment by a professional set of eyes can inspire some minor or major improvements. Programs in New York are available to help with the costs of these audits and many consumers will qualify for incentivized help for any upgrades recommended on an audit. Contact a Community Energy Advisor (CEA) to find out how you can get a reduced cost or free home energy assessment by going to midhudsonenergychoices. org, emailing sw288@ cornell.edu or calling 1-845-292-6180 ex 127. A CEA can walk you through the process of getting an audit, and discuss what programs and resources are available.
