If you’re looking to improve home performance and energy efficiency, a quick search for “energy audit” will bring up businesses that offer free energy audits in your area. Others will offer paid energy audits, so why not go with the free option? Like many free services provided by businesses, it’s a sales tactic to get in the door. For paid energy audits, it’s a useful service in its own right. Learn the difference between free and paid energy audits so you can make the most informed decision.
What is in an Energy Audit?
An energy audit, or home energy assessment, is an inspection and analysis of your home and how energy is being used. Generally, it looks for systems, locations, and appliances that consume extra electricity, either directly or indirectly through heating or cooling losses, such as insulation or air leakage issues. Inspections are done on all parts of the house, and use both detailed examinations and specialized equipment to assess the home.
Free vs. Paid Energy Audits
While the exact procedures, tools, and assessment will change from home performance expert to expert and the price you pay, here’s what to expect if you’ve paid for an energy audit vs. a typical free one:
- Checking More Places: An energy audit should explore all parts of your home, from the exterior to every room, including typically sealed areas such as attics and large crawlspaces.
- Better Equipment & Expertise: Paying for an audit means paying for more equipment, from infrared cameras to blower doors. It also means you’re working with professionals who do this for a living—not just whatever they are selling with it.
- More Information: At the end of the assessment, a report will be produced that the auditor will share with you. Free audits are typically bare-bones reports that are solutions-focused, while paid audits provide useful information first and a plan second.
Getting More Than Just an Energy Audit
An energy audit focuses primarily on your home’s energy efficiency, but as homeowners, paying less on utility bills is only one part of what you want in your house. Improving the comfort of your home by reducing drafts and cold/hot rooms, and improving its health through better air quality, are also important considerations. Energy audits can be upgraded to full home evaluations that include air quality inspections, allowing efficiency, comfort, and health to be assessed. Learn more about this combined approach in our blog, What is the Whole Home Approach to House Health & Comfort?
Home Evaluations & Paid Energy Audits in St. Louis
We’re proud to provide paid energy audits and complete home evaluations to the St. Louis area here at Greenmark Home Performance. Efficiency, health, and comfort are the pillars on which we base our business, and rest assured that in any of our evaluations, be they energy audits, air quality tests, or full home evaluations, we’ll provide a full report of our findings. This will include any issues we find, the data behind them, and our suggested next steps. Schedule your home evaluation today or call us at (314) 845-9144 to learn more.
