Monday, September 26, 2011

Surviving Winter through Energy Audits Virginia

The idea of performing an audit of one’s home may seem like a new concept but the practice has been with us for ages. It is a common practice for residents within wintering regions to have their homes profiled to determine how much energy is lost from the gaps in the building. As a result, they increase or lower the heat when necessary and perform energy audit Virginia style in their homes.

Technically speaking, an energy audit inspects, surveys and analyzes the flow and conservation of energy in a building, the initial goal of which is to reduce the amount of energy being used in the system without compromising the quality of output. This is beneficial for you and your family to have a safe and cozy place to come home to. The audit will also help you prioritize energy use so you can cut down on costs.

Home energy evaluations commonly follow this process. An auditor will perform a room by room examination of your house taking into account even minute details of individual house elements like window size, floor type and wall construction. He tests the effectivity of your insulation systems and measure air infiltration rate within the house.

Your heating and cooling appliances may also contribute in the wastage of energy if left uncared for. It may also estimate energy use based on climate, roof overhand, thermostat settings, and heat from the sun. Gas and electricity bills also give hints as to what equipment consumes the most energy at a given time.

To produce more accurate and customized assessments, you will be asked by the auditor certain things related to energy consumption. Some of these questions may include how you use electrical gadgets and construction history of your home. The number of people and available electronic (heating/cooling) gadgets inside your home certainly has an effect.

The goal here is to eliminate all irrelevant expenditures without sacrificing comfort. You might be even given a chance to renovate your home through government sponsored energy saving programs. You won't be doing a disservice to your house if you have it audited.

In the United States, energy audit is performed by public utility companies, private energy services companies, sealing specialists, insulation contractors, or the US State Energy Office. Energy audit companies are expected to propose solutions after conducting tests. Some businesses in this sector do not only perform audits but also implement solutions for most energy loss problems.

Energy audits are done in three different ways. The simplest type of audit covers the assessment of building though inspection and interview which lasts for about an hour. This is sometimes referred to as walk through audit.

A general audit differs from preliminary audit in the sense that it includes the use of professional tools to produce more accurate diagnosis of the structure. A copy of your previous electric bills may be used to calculate the amount of energy wastage. Meanwhile, investment-grade audit applies to corporations that are concerned with return on investments (ROI).

For more detailed information on energy audit Virginia, get in touch with Energy Max Solutions or any similar company. A poll conducted across the country concluded that Virginian homeowners have become more energy savvy. This can be attributed to increased awareness in energy-saving techniques.

For more information and additional tips, checking this online site
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