I'm having an 'energy audit' done on my house

[DaveGS4]

It's one I asked for from my power company that they do for free upon request. Anybody had one of these done? Find them useful?

I do have some questions for them mainly around anticipated payback (beyond environmental benefits) of recommendations.... I'd love to see them ranked to guide my followup actions. I also want to know answers to stupid stuff like 'if there is a light bulb burned out and it's turned on, is it wasting energy?'.

Some details about what they do:

http://ci.montgomery.oh.us/news/energy_audit.html

Here is a brief description of the Energy Auditor’s visit, which took an hour. A detailed interview was conducted about the age and size of the house, the number of occupants, and the age and types of appliances.

Then we took an inspection tour. We started in the basement where he looked at the mechanicals and appliances. He showed me where additional insulation was needed, how to install it and what type of tape to use for the duct joints. He advised how to insulate the water heater pipes and measure the water heater for an insulation jacket. We then toured the main floor (we have a ranch) and the outside. He identified places where insulation and caulking were needed. He also described methods to improve the weatherization on my unheated garage to keep cold air from reaching the heated area. He did not go into the attic.

Before leaving, he wrote an On-Site Check Summary, which included his recommendations. He gave me a copy and said I would receive a more detailed report from Duke within 2 weeks.

I was then given a free Energy Efficiency Starter Kit and a packet containing the following literature: an Energy Savers Booklet; a Glossary of Terms; a comprehensive list on the approximate cost of operating household appliances; and a workbook providing advice on how to make good home energy efficiency choices. He then went over the contents of the Starter Kit and explained how to install the items. The Kit contains about 8 different items such as compact fluorescent bulbs, low flow shower- head, faucet aerator, etc.

I found his visit helpful. Now I have work to do that will save me money, help the environment and preserve our local resources.

and another writeup
http://info.apogee.net/newsletter/do...128_133138.pdf

[Stormwind]

I would not do that well in that audit. Although all my light bulbs in my house including outside are all CCFL (which is the next best thing since they invented wheel) I have a couple power soakers in the house still.

One of them is a 2nd gen Dell plasma tv which is fanless and quiet but soaks a lot of power (300-400 watts) and my PS3 attached to it (180 watts), also sucks a lot of juice for a little BD player that it is. Then there is the old fridge, which I have no idea how much power it uses.

[DaveGS4]

Lol, I think I'm going to be in similar shape, even though I'm not currently running my 'folding farm' which added a couple hundred bucks a month to my bill. I've got three PS3's going 24x7 folding and my primary TV in the room where I work is a 60" plasma (Elite Kuro) which is a massive draw. Fridge isn't that old but certainly not new - probably 1999. The rest of the appliances are due for an upgrade and are circa 1995.

[powerwave]

you might find some useful common info here: http://energysavers.gov/

we've been using info there to get winterized after getting out of NC but we rent our living quarters, so there's only so far we're willing to go.

[tmf2004]

I had something done through the power company where someone came out and tested the A/C.. Did some sot of compression test thing for adequate cooling etc.. It was free and made me feel good that the house was cooling properly and there weren't leaks in the windows, doors, etc..

[bitkahuna]

Dave, i had one done and it was somewhat educational, but the bottom line is MOST things in your home make very little difference one way or another.

the biggest single factor on power draw is the thermostat (if your heat/cold are electric). if you have gas/oil etc. for heat in winter then the equation's a bit different, and then other factors come into play like the appliances, washer/dryer, how often you run them, etc. but light bulbs are basically a rounding error. switching to cf bulbs helps a little bit, but raising that thermostat in the summer ONE degree makes a MUCH bigger difference.

got an old fridge? get rid of it.

run the oven all day a lot? consider a change in diet.

anything with motors or heating/cooling chews up electricity.

of course things like insulation, caulking windows, weather stripping are all good things, some are cheap and simple, some are complex and expensive to do with no chance of payback.

[J.P.]

Originally Posted by bitkahuna

Dave, i had one done and it was somewhat educational, but the bottom line is MOST things in your home make very little difference one way or another.

the biggest single factor on power draw is the thermostat (if your heat/cold are electric). if you have gas/oil etc. for heat in winter then the equation's a bit different, and then other factors come into play like the appliances, washer/dryer, how often you run them, etc. but light bulbs are basically a rounding error. switching to cf bulbs helps a little bit, but raising that thermostat in the summer ONE degree makes a MUCH bigger difference.

got an old fridge? get rid of it.

run the oven all day a lot? consider a change in diet.

anything with motors or heating/cooling chews up electricity.

of course things like insulation, caulking windows, weather stripping are all good things, some are cheap and simple, some are complex and expensive to do with no chance of payback.

In bold was the trick. My aunt had something like this done since the city she lives in has their own electric plant. But many of the items were $$$ and would save power but she would never get the cash back.

That is part of the green problem, much of it makes no financial sense. My geothermal has a payback of maybe 3 years, that made sense to me.

[Stormwind]

Originally Posted by bitkahuna

Dave, i had one done and it was somewhat educational, but the bottom line is MOST things in your home make very little difference one way or another.

the biggest single factor on power draw is the thermostat (if your heat/cold are electric). if you have gas/oil etc. for heat in winter then the equation's a bit different, and then other factors come into play like the appliances, washer/dryer, how often you run them, etc. but light bulbs are basically a rounding error. switching to cf bulbs helps a little bit, but raising that thermostat in the summer ONE degree makes a MUCH bigger difference.

got an old fridge? get rid of it.

run the oven all day a lot? consider a change in diet.

anything with motors or heating/cooling chews up electricity.

of course things like insulation, caulking windows, weather stripping are all good things, some are cheap and simple, some are complex and expensive to do with no chance of payback.

Not everyone can afford to spend thousands to drag the old ac unit out and hire someone to install a new one or replace a fridge. But everyone can replace their halogen bulbs with a ccfl and see a significant savings in electric bill, especially if they are not an old scrooge that huddles around a single 60 watt halogen bulb that lights the entire house. If that's the case changing out that single bulb won't do him a thing.

[Pearlpower]

I walked around the house one day with a killowatt meter and a pyrometer. End result, found a few things here and there that drew power such as the fish tank, etc. But in the end, I was not about to give up convenience for a few bucks. I ran a tad over $550 a month over the summer months this year. Considering all of the computers, CCTV cameras, etc in my home plus the AC going-I reached the conclusion that in the end, I'm comfortable and feel better.
My last home though was costing me $900 a month in the summer months. Newer homes do have their advantages.