You’ve finally gotten your home energy inspection. Now what? You have taken the first step to a more energy efficient home. Now that you have the inspection out of the way, it’s time to put the results and suggestions to work. Your energy inspector should have provided some suggestions on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency as well as which areas your home is lacking or losing energy.
Firstly, depending on what bulbs you currently have, your energy inspector might leave recommendations for LED bulbs. LEDs are 75% more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and tend to last longer. You might also receive a recommendation for additional insulation to keep your home energy efficient. Sometimes it can be as simple as insulation behind your power outlets or the suggestion could end up being major job like attic insulation. Whatever the recommendation, it is important to take the necessary steps to get it done. Your energy inspector will likely leave recommendations for professionals who can complete these updates for you.
Energy improvement recommendations might also include HVAC system upgrades or maintenance. Your cooling or heating system might need additional insulation or an overall update to function efficiently. You might need a door or window replacement. Some homes need an appliance overhaul to save on energy use. Every home is different and you want to take the time to evaluate what your home needs.
The goal of a home energy inspection is to save you money. Your inspector has pointed out the things you can change to save money on your energy use. It can be overwhelming at first, especially when there are multiple recommendations. It can be hard to decide where to start. You can ease yourself in with the simplest and easiest updates first. Start working on the small stuff you can do yourself while you search for a professional contractor to handle the big jobs. If all the jobs are major, then prioritize. Your energy inspector can help you prioritize which changes need to be made soon and which can wait. You want to tackle whichever will have the biggest impact on your energy use.
Finances can be a problem for some homeowners especially when the whole home needs to be updated. Not all energy efficiency steps are pricey. For the ones that are pricey, the return on investment and energy savings eventually cancel out the upfront cost. Depending on which state you live in, there might be government assistance available to you depending on what needs to be done. Do your research and find out what assistance you qualify for. Additionally, check with contractors to see what financing options they have available.
Don’t wait too long to tackle the improvements needed. Every day without the energy saving updates is a day of losing energy you could be saving. Ask questions, get recommendations for contractors and professionals, sort out finances and get your home on the track to being energy efficient. You’ve got this!
