Green Talk®

Whole Body, Healthy Home, and Sustainable Garden Inspiration

  • About
    • Press
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • New Here?
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Hire Me
  • 5 Reasons to Subscribe!
  • Build Green
  • Gardening
  • Green Business
  • Green Living
  • Green Home
  • Recycling
  • Tech

Home Energy Audits Are Just Like Liposuction without the Pain.

March 3, 2012 By: Anna2 Comments

Thermal Scan of a Wall with a Home Energy Audit

Thermal Scan of a Wall with a Home Energy Audit

What do Home energy audits and liposuction have in common?  They both tighten you up.    Good thing is the audit is painless.  But like liposuction, the outcome is amazing.  Who wouldn’t want a new sleek figure?  Give the gift of an energy audit to your house and  fall in love with your house again.

Just to get you up to speed from my previously post, I discuss my own heat loss saga around my baseboards and crown molding.   I wish I knew what I know now.   Had I used gaskets in various areas, I would not be posting the below video.

In 2005, my house was certified as a New Jersey Energy Star house.  Did the blower door and completed all the requirements.  I was one happy bird.  Fast forward, the love affair had ended. (Well, maybe the lust part but I still love my house in a more mature way.)

Houses Shift Like People’s Bodies

You know with age, everything seems to slide downwards?  Kind of like my house.  Shifting with age.  All of a sudden, a love handle appears out of nowhere.  Guess what, so does air infiltration. No one said aging is kind.

In the below video, The auditor is using the scanner to detect heat surface changes.  It is usually used in conjunction with a blower door which tests air leakage.  The infrared scanner will pinpoint exactly where heat loss is occurring.   According to the US DOE,

“Thermography measures surface temperatures by using infrared video and still cameras. These tools see light that is in the heat spectrum. Images on the video or film record the temperature variations of the building’s skin, ranging from white for warm regions to black for cooler areas. The resulting images help the auditor determine whether insulation is needed. They also serve as a quality control tool, to ensure that insulation has been installed correctly.”

Oh, and wait to you see the corner studs.  It ain’t pretty.

So What Did the Doctor order?

A little nip tucking was order.  Not too much.  The auditor suggested the following:

  • Caulk around fireplaces where the mantels met the wood.  To be honest, this just confused me.
  • One window needed a little caulk
  • He thought he could stop the second floor ceiling leakage with more foam in the attic.
  • Could install baby proofing plugs to stop leakage out of the electrical holes.  I had already installed foam in the electrical outlets.

What I couldn’t change:

  • Recessed air tight light leakage.  There was leakage around the light fixture.
  • leakage around base moldings in second and first floors.
  • leakage around first floor crown moldings.
  • Can’t change leakage around corner moldings.  They needed additional insulation stuffed in them when the house was framed.  See here on how to insulate a corner when you are building a house.

In all, I did pretty well.  You should consider giving your house a present and have an energy audit. Why continue to throw money out the window?

Does Your State/Country Offer A Rebate for Energy Audits or Retrofits?

  • Check  US state rebates.  See if your state will pay for the audit and/or retrofits.
  • Check here in Canada and here.  See March, 2012 deadlines!
  • State here for Australia
  • British Gas in the UK is offering free insulation.  Deadline is 7/2012.  Check the website for date extensions.

Home Energy Auditors

Here is a list of some places to start looking for a home energy auditor:

  • In the US, look here.  (Always check your state to make sure that they don’t have their own list.)
  • Also, in the US and Canada, check the Building Performance Institute.  (See the locator tab.)

Energy Audits Aren’t Just for Homes

Although this article is about home energy audits, many energy performance specialists will use infrared scanners to look for energy leaks in commercial buildings.  In addition, the scanners can detect water leaks in roofs, mold growth, and overheated breaker panels.

Join the Conversation:

  • Did you have an energy audit done for your home?  If so, what did it find?
  • Does your area pay for energy audits?
  • If you are an energy auditor, what do you mostly find?
  • Any one understand what happens when a house shifts?  What happens to the foam insulation?
  • Do you think your house is leaking? Afraid to show your energy bills at parties?
  • Please list in the comments UK, Australian, or any other country’s energy audit certifications programs.

Similar Posts:

  • Air Infiltration Stopped Dead in its Tracks with Gaskets
  • Top 5 Fall Home Maintenance Tips Before the Winter Smackdown
  • Energy Efficient Dryer Vent: Love Your Dryer Again.
  • Energy Bills Too High? Stop Air Infiltration in Attic
  • Is Your Living Area Just One Big Leak?

Grow From Seed Mini Course

Grow From Seed Mini Course

About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

Chat with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , and Google+.

Comments

  1. 1

    Nicole Schuman says

    March 5, 2012 at 6:19 am

    This is really a big help for everyone, specially to those families that doesn’t earn so much. This is such an awareness. Thanks for sharing.. Good job!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Energy Efficient Dryer Vent: Love Your Dryer Again. | Green Talk® says:
    August 6, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    […] Home Energy Audits Are Just Like Liposuction without the Pain. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Shop from Anna’s Farm– The Naked Botanical– Farm Fresh Teas, Salts & Body Products

The Naked Botanical Click HERE

Save Money By Growing Your Plants Indoors.

Three Must Have Equipment "

Grab My Free Mini Course

Connect with Me

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Popular Posts

  • Organic Color Systems: Wash those Grays Away with a Safer Hair Color

  • Coffee Grounds in the Garden: Friend or Foe?

  • Celery Leaves: Cook or Discard them?

  • Freeze Cucumbers & Learn How to Use Them.

  • Hydrogen Peroxide + Ears = Bye to Colds. A Remedy that Works

  • Orange Peel Vinegar Cleaner. Make Your Own Green Cleaner

  • 15 Ways to Recycle or Repurpose Your Underwear

Recent Posts

  • How to Grow Grains in a Small Garden
  • Proper Lighting to Grow Seeds Indoors.
  • Gone Vegan: And Loving My New Life
  • Sleep On Latex: A Healthier Mattress to Sleep Better
  • Eco-Friendly Multi-Use Yard Living. Eat and Enjoy.

Popular Posts

  • Organic Color Systems: Wash those Grays Away with a Safer Hair Color

  • Coffee Grounds in the Garden: Friend or Foe?

  • Celery Leaves: Cook or Discard them?

RSS Green Talk TV

  • Hibiscus in the high tunnel and some discoveries I found.
  • Turmeric indoor sowing time!
  • Short snippet of creating a rose hydrosol
  • Elderberry, more uses than just for health
  • The Naked Botanical's Gift Boxes

Copyright Green Talk © 2025 · Website Designed by Clever Kiwi