Helpful tips to reduce energy consumption (part 2)

In the spirit of being green, we have put together a list of ways to minimize your energy consumption.

The following are reliable ways to assess where your energy leaks are:

Get a blower door test

A blower door is a diagnostic tool that measures the airtightness of a building and helps to locate air leakage sites.  It consists of a frame and flexible panel that fit in a doorway, a variable-speed fan, a pressure gauge to measure the pressure differences inside and outside the home, and an airflow manometer and hoses for measuring airflow.  Knowing the airtightness of a building is useful when trying to increase energy conservation, decrease indoor air pollution and controlling building pressures.

Walk-through energy audits

The best way to determine how to cut your energy costs is to audit your home’s current energy use.  A walk-through assessment is the easiest and least expensive means of identifying and evaluating energy use in your home.  An energy audit’s purpose is to identify places in the home where energy is being wasted and prioritize the projects needed to fix them.  The end result is intended to reduce the amount of energy the home needs to operate and keep occupants comfortable.  While the word “audit” may sound ominous, a home energy audit is just the first step in the process of lowering energy bills by making a home more efficient. 
If you own the home, there is a clearly defined benefit for your efforts.  Many have found that conducting a walk-through energy audit results in significant benefits not only in occupant comfort, but with new ways to save energy by identifying energy inefficiencies.  You’ll start saving money on your energy bills as soon and you identify and fix energy wasters.