Getting Prepared is half the battle! Here is what you will need to get yourself ready to do your own home energy audit.
Now that you have decided that you are doing to do your own home energy audit you need to get it all planned out. Here are your next steps and tools for doing your own home energy audit!
Planning: You will need to set aside several hours to go through your whole home for this audit. Take the time for this – a weekend may be your best bet. Always remember-safety first! You will want to make sure that you are totally prepared and to go into your attic, basement or crawl space in the most safe way possible. Wear clothing that is comfortable and that you aren’t afraid to get dirty; you may possibly get some stains or tears (possibly cobwebs!) on your clothing on audit day. You will need to ensure that you are physically up to the task- you may have to climb a ladder or be in a very hot or cold space depending on the time of year your conduct your DIY home energy audit.
Tools for your home energy audit:
- Safety gear: eye protection, dust mask, gloves
- Pencil or pen for taking notes
- Calculator for calculating square footage of attic and crawl space
- Tape measure or ruler for insulation depth measurements
- Screwdriver for removing switch plate and vent covers
- Flash light
- Ladder
Prepping for your audit you should make sure that you have turned off any electricity at the breaker when you are about to probe insulation near any wiring. If you see any bare wires, contact an electrician and absolutely do NOT touch any wiring. If you think you may have asbestos in your home, or you know that your insulation is fiberglass or are just unsure, wear your safety dust mask to protect your lungs from the fibers.
Next time we will discuss the building as a system… stay tuned!
