Inside My Energy Audit: That’s a Wrap
By National Trust for Historic Preservation on August 6th, 2010Written by Barry Goodinson
Editor’s Note: This is the final installment in a week-long series exploring the author’s recent home energy audit.
So that’s it. Was our home energy audit worth the $400 we paid for it? Absolutely!
We caught a potentially dangerous venting problem with our furnace and our hot water heater. I learned that we have a hidden air conditioning filter on the third floor (I still don’t know what the other one does). We now have a scientific understanding of just how drafty our house is and how that relates to the acceptable standard. We know that our attic is not properly insulated thanks to the x-ray eyes of thermal photography. We got a whole week of advance notice before we had to replace our living-on-borrowed-time air conditioner. And most importantly, we lost our excuse to do nothing about our drafty old windows and now have the necessary incentive to tackle the job.
Sure, it’s no fun to spend $400 to create a long list of expensive home repair projects. However, ignoring the fact that your house is burning four times the energy it should, or could pose a health problem to your family, is not a winning strategy either.
So, go ahead. Get to know your house a bit better. It’s kind of fun, a little embarrassing, highly informative, and can help you do the right thing for the planet.
Barry Goodinson is the director of historic sites development at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This is the final installment in a week-long series exploring his recent home energy audit. Want to learn more about energy audits and making your home more efficient? Check out the National Trust’s Weatherization Guide for Older and Historic Buildings.
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