Energy conservation Step 1: Undergo an energy audit

By Tom Eastman

CONWAY — Stacy Sand, owner and founder of Go Green Energy Audits of Intervale, is certified and insured. She chose to become an energy auditor as a way to work with her passion for conservation of the Earth's resources.

An active member of the Mount Washington Valley community and a former Conway selectman, Sand says she wanted to do work that would start by benefiting the people who live here while still benefiting the Earth. She also has learned what she did wrong in her own homes, previous to learning energy-auditing skills, and is happy to let others benefit from her mistakes.

Go Green Energy Audits is an independent contractor but will make recommendations of weatherization and retrofitting contractors that can do the work that the Go Green energy audit report recommends.

Sand also works for Tri-County Community Action Program of Tamworth, which provides weatherization services and fuel assistance to applicants.

For those interested in improving their energy efficiency as the winter approaches, she said, "A home energy audit is the first step. Making the upgrades identified in a home energy audit can save 5-30 percent on your energy bill while also ensuring your health and safety.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, she said, "Heating accounts for the biggest portion of your utility bills, so by reducing your need for heat by making the improvements recommended in an audit, you make a permanent dent in one of your biggest bills."

According to Sand, an energy audit should include:

• A complete analysis of past energy bills to determine your home's base energy consumption.

• An exterior inspection of your home, that will look for paint peeling, venting, moisture, and other factors that might affect your home's energy performance.

• A health and safety inspection — for instance, air quality, mold, electrical overloads, and  combustion appliance safety analysis.

• A comprehensive interior inspection including infrared detection of insufficient insulation, including visits to the attic and crawl space or basement; a blower door test for drafts; metering of your refrigerator; inspection of fireplaces and air vents; checking for lead based paint; and an evaluation of doors and windows.

Infrared cameras show temperature difference, so when there is a difference between the indoor and outdoor temperature, an infrared photo will show gaps in insulation, wet areas in the walls and ceiling, and air leakage during a blower door test, all of which affect heat loss and the comfort.

The average home has enough air leakage to add up to a two-foot-square hole. That's like leaving a window wide open 24 hours a day!  Finding the leaks so that you can fix them is the purpose of a blower door test. The initial test can also give a baseline, so that you can also know how much room there is for improvement.  It also tells if there is enough fresh air or whether mechanical ventilation may be warranted.

• A comprehensive computer generated report indicating expected savings for each improvement suggested and a prioritized plan of action.

Sand said residential audits average from $300-$500. "Sometimes these audits are subsidized by local electric companies if you are a high consumer of energy. Some contractors will also reduce the cost if you hire them to make the recommended improvements to your house."

Before the energy auditor visits your house, make a list of any existing problems that you know of and have copies of your utility bills, electric, heating fuel and cooking fuel, available.  

If you are planning on being the contractor or doing the work yourself, it will be very helpful for you to spend time with the energy auditor while they conduct their tests, as you will have a better understanding of what the report tells you later on.

You can Google an energy auditor, but you might also look for professional affiliations like Building Performance Institute certification or RESNET certification (for new homes). In New Hampshire, most energy auditors belong to the Residential Energy Professional Association, where their full members, who are vetted for their experience, are listed on their website at REPA-NH.org.

Programs available]]

• Weatherization Assistance Program: A low-income program available in all 50 states and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

• N.H. Electric Cooperative and Eversource Energy: The electric companies have a number of rebates, incentives, and loans to help their customers improve the efficiency of their homes  Information can be found at nhsaves.com, nhec.com or eversource.com. NHSaves  also has great ideas for do it yourself projects and actions that you can start on even before your energy auditor arrives.

Source: Energy conservation Step 1: Undergo an energy audit