12 Feb February’s Action: Schedule a Home Energy Audit
It is midwinter in Maine, and while some of us may be turning to thoughts of spring, it’s the perfect time to reap the benefits of conducting a home energy audit.
Become more energy efficient, increase comfort and save money.
An energy audit is a comprehensive assessment of your home’s energy usage.
This process identifies areas where heat can escape your home, causing drafts, uneven temperature variations, etc—plus the solutions you can implement to increase your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your heating budget.
How a home energy audit works
A professional energy auditor uses a walk-through of the entire home and analytical tests to assess:
- The effectiveness: of your building envelope (the exterior walls, foundations, roof, windows and doors), including detection of air leaks and insulation deficiencies
- The safety and efficiency of your heating systems
- Moisture and mold concerns
After the energy audit is complete, the auditor provides a detailed report outlining the findings and provides practical recommendations for energy-saving upgrades specific to your home.
Energy audits can pay for themselves
An energy audit generally costs between $300 and $500, but the repairs will create long-lasting energy bill savings. And you may be eligible for a federal tax credit and/or a rebate under the Town of Freeport’s Electrify Everything Expanded Rebate Program. You can learn more about the Expanded Rebate Program by checking out our January EcoHomes blog.
With your energy audit report in hand, you can make informed decisions about energy-efficient upgrades to your home. Efficiency Maine has an excellent fact sheet that identifies facts and common myths about weathering homes in Maine. Many weatherization upgrades, including air sealing and insulation upgrades, are eligible for rebates and tax incentives through federal programs and Efficiency Maine.
How can you take action?
Schedule an energy audit for your home! Taking this step not only benefits you individually but also contributes to our shared commitment to environmental responsibility and climate-friendly living. Energy audits can be performed any month of the year, so booking now will ensure you get it done before next winter’s storms blow in.
Thanks for joining us, and see you next month.
With thanks to York Maine’s Ready for Climate Action for inspiring this series.