Heating or cooling a building to a comfortable temperature requires energy. Many buildings leak air to the outside environment, causing buildings to lose this energy. To compensate for the lost heat or air-conditioning, building systems produce excess heated or cooled air, which wastes more energy.

Energy auditors, also known as energy raters or energy consultants, help prevent this waste by inspecting buildings to find areas of air leakage and advising customers on how to fix and prevent leaks. In this way, energy auditors help consumers use fewer resources and save money.

By reducing energy waste, auditors lower overall energy consumption, which benefits the environment. Producing energy from coal or nuclear power has environmental costs and creates hazardous by-products. Even renewable sources of energy, such as wind or solar power, can require large, environmentally disruptive construction projects. By increasing energy efficiency, auditors help to lower demand for energy.

Energy auditors also help building owners save money. Building owners pay the bill for any energy the building consumes, whether it's used effectively or wasted. Unnecessary energy expenditures can be significant in large buildings or buildings that lack energy efficient technologies, such as proper insulation or fluorescent light bulbs. By identifying problem areas and proposing solutions, energy auditors can help building owners lower their energy bills. Over time, these savings more than make up for the cost of the energy audit.

Most energy audits are FREE based on income and household size. See if you