Home Green Home: What You’ll Learn from a Home Energy Audit

A week ago we had a home energy audit. It’s free, sort of. (You actually already pay for it through your National Grid bill, so might as well take advantage of this service.)

Ron from RISE Engineering probed throughout our house from basement to attic. And what did he discover? That our walls have absolutely no insulation! Fabulous news to hear right after we’ve spent our Obama money on other home improvement projects.

Really, I can’t understand how the previous owners (who had the house custom-built for them and lived here for 50-odd years) could not have insulated their abode, but for a few measly inches in the attic.

Unfortunately, as oil heat consumers, we are not eligible for the current awesome National Grid discounts on home insulation. However, all you gas and electric heat customers out there should jump on this opportunity now. You’ll get sprayed cellulose insulation, which is environmentally friendly, lasts practically forever and saves up to 40% on your heating costs. It’s such a simple thing to do for your wallet and for the environment.

Ron was impressed that we already used compact fluorescent light bulbs and most of our appliances were Energy-Star rated. (If you haven’t switched already, you’ll receive up to eight free CFLs during the audit.)

I’ve been dying to replace the old clothes washer with an efficient, front-loading one, and I could be in luck if this potential Cash for Clunker Appliances money gets released. We also learned that we have excellent, highly efficient windows but our doors and bulkhead need major weatherproofing.

I am left wishing that we’d done this audit when we first bought the house in February so that our money had gone toward something green that would also produce immediate savings for us. I thought I was ahead of the game installing all my CFLs, but that’s just the tip of the home energy iceberg. I blame those extended years of apartment living when someone else often paid the utility bills so I never thought much about it.

So, until we accrue some more savings, I’ll try to do some of the inexpensive fix-its (insulating the attic hatch and light switch plates on exterior walls). And repeat to Sofie the lessons my father drilled into me: Turn the lights off! Use cold water instead of hot. Don’t flush every time. Keep that refrigerator door closed! Cold? Wear a sweater.

Links for more information:
RI National Grid Energy Services
Massachusetts Energy Savings
DIY Home Energy Audit
Cellulose vs. Fiberglass Insulation
Air Leakage Diagram