This FREE audit can save you money and help the environment.
The American Homeowners Foundation (AHF) has developed a free Home Energy Audit to help homeowners reduce energy consumption and costs. The audit takes about ten minutes and identifies opportunities for homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their home in the most cost effective manner.
It is easy to perform the self-directed audit, requiring only a flashlight, a ruler, screwdrivers, and a printed copy of the three page audit questionnaire to keep track of your score. “It takes about ten minutes to walk through a typical home and fill out the questionnaire,” according AHF President Bruce Hahn. “It will help you identify many inexpensive do-it-yourself opportunities like caulking, where a few dollars in materials can save hundreds of dollars this year and into the foreseeable future,” he added.
A typical U.S. home has over 1/2 mile of gaps and cracks. Through those cracks around windows, doors, and electrical outlets flow your hard-earned dollars. More energy is wasted in many other areas of the home as well. The resulting costs will continue to mount as energy prices increase. Energy waste in American homes is also a significant contributor to global warming.
The federal government, and many states, offer incentives to encourage homeowners to make their homes more efficient. On December 8, 2009, President Obama proposed a new “Cash for Caulkers” program that would reimburse homeowners for up to $12,000 in spending on home energy efficiency improvements. The President’s proposal is in addition to the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provides more than $25 billion for energy efficiency, as well as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The 2007 and 2008 laws provide incentives for highly efficient new homes, home improvements, heating and cooling equipment, and appliances. In 2010, you can get a 30% income tax credit, capped at $1,500, for expenses on installing energy efficient windows, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in your home, or adding to your current insulation. More details on incentives are available on both the
Internal Revenue Service and
Department of Energy websites.
There are many other things homeowners can do to reduce home energy costs. Many of them are lifestyle related. While inside your home wear warmer layered clothing in the winter, and light and loose fitting garments in the summer. You'll use less energy for heating and cooling. Try to spend more of your time in warmer parts of your home in the winter, and in the coolest part of your home in the summer and you’ll also use less energy for heating and cooling. The top floor of the south side of a home is usually the warmest and the lowest level of the north side is usually coolest.
There are other ways for homeowners to save energy as well. Today you can buy most products on the Internet for less than their price at a mall. You’ll also save time, money spent on gasoline, and wear and tear on your vehicle.
In addition, the postal carrier, UPS and FedEx trucks are coming down your street anyway, so there’s no added environmental impact in getting the product to your home. The gas you’re not using will help to reduce global warming (and the reduction in gasoline consumption will help keep gas prices lower).
Today many jobs can be performed effectively in a home office. More employers are supporting telecommuting now that technology is friendlier to working at home. Think about asking your employer if you can telecommute. A car parked in the driveway is even more energy efficient than a hybrid vehicle, and you’ll be helping to reduce rush hour traffic jams and pressure on your state’s transportation infrastructure.
For a free copy of AHF’s ten minute energy audit, simply send an email to
AHF@AmericanHomeowners.org with the words “Free Ten Minute Home Energy Audit” in the subject line. The Foundation will email it back to you in Microsoft word format.
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