Have your home inspected, top to bottom.

If you’re a homeowner, especially one with an older home in the New England area, you need to conduct a home energy audit. Energy audits test your home for places where heating and cooling are being wasted. In New England that’s a big deal; not just because that’s dollars coming out of your pocket, but because an improperly-heated home can lead to damage to your home in the winter.

Here are a few statistics about energy audits to show just why they’re so important.

1. The Savings Can Be Up to 30% of Your Energy Bill

First of all, we’re not talking about a fairly minor percentage of your bill here; up to 30% of what you’re paying in heating is, quite literally, going right out the doors and windows. Why? The short answer is drafts. The more drafts there are in your home, the more places there are for heat to escape. And the more heat escapes, the more fuel your furnace has to burn and the harder it has to work to make sure your home is properly heated.

Just how much air leakage is there? According to the Department of Energy, enough, on average, to add up to leaving open a window all day, every day, all year.

2. The Size of the Crack Doesn’t Matter

Which type of gap lets in more cold air; a window open three inches, or a crack between the window and the molding roughly 1/16th of an inch thick? As you might have guessed from the headline, it doesn’t matter; both will let in the same amount of cold air. So even if it looks like everything is sealed nice and tight, it might not be, and those deceiving looks can put a pretty hard dent in your wallet.

Modern technology makes finding those leaks a lot easier.

3. Energy Inefficiency Costs Consumers $13 Billion a Year

Yes, that’s billion with a B, according to the United States government. The problem is, just like the drafts, one house on its own being a bit inefficient isn’t a big deal. But you, your neighbors, and everyone in your town being unaware of the money they’re losing adds up, and fast. True, it’s not all down to consumers; utility companies and power generation plants have their own problems. But we lose an awful lot of money to leaky windows and doors.

4. Energy Inefficiency Puts Strain on Utilities to The Tune of $12 Billion a Year

The electricity and natural gas we use to heat our homes has to come from somewhere, and utility companies work hard to ensure that the lights stay on and our families stay toasty. Unfortunately, though, inefficiency means those systems have to work harder, and that costs power companies $12 billion a year. As you might have guessed, as those losses add up, utilities need to recoup the costs… adding to higher electricity and gas bills.

In short, it’s important to get a home energy audit for two reasons: One, you can save a pretty, pretty penny on energy bills, even if you have a relatively new home. And secondly, it helps bring down bills in your town; if homeowners get together and use energy more efficiently, it will mean more savings for everyone. So, call Moonworks today about an energy audit, and prepare to enjoy a lower energy bill.

Photo credits: Green Energy Futures, The Shifted Librarian