https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 14:29:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779182 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:39:00 +0000 mrs. wagon 1779182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours was with our local energy company and it was free! They also provide a huge packet full of rebates to fill out, and they come complete with a computer and printer to print out all their recommendations, how much money each improvement will save you, etc. It was awesome.</p> <p>Our first step is to get more insulation blown in to the entire house. It was built before the regulations changed, so I think we have one inch of insulation when the standard is now like 2-3 inches or something like that. That will happen soon!</p> <p>We just converted from oil to gas, so there was a bunch of stuff that happened with that... the details are fuzzy now.</p> <p>We also have to replace a few windows... so expensive!!</p> <p>We have a whole house fan which impressed the guy... haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779147 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:29:20 +0000 Smurfette 1779147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: @autumnlove: Interesting. Never heard of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779143 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:27:49 +0000 autumnlove 1779143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: my house is really, really hot even when it is cool outSide and freezing in the winter ....I bet we need to replace or add more insulation! </p> <p>@locavore_mama: our is also $95</p> <p>@Smurfette: a pro that will help me get my utility bills down...I hope! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779129 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:22:14 +0000 regberadaisy 1779129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: I'm not that great at explaining things: <a href="http://energy.gov/public-services/homes/home-weatherization/home-energy-audits" rel="nofollow">http://energy.gov/public-services/homes/home-weatherization/home-energy-audits</a></p> <p>But basically a professional comes in and audits how efficient your home is. From window leaks to equipment to how well insulated your home is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779123 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:20:30 +0000 regberadaisy 1779123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: yes! That's the one I'm most excited about! haha I'm an architect and we run that test before new buildings are occupied. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779120 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:19:09 +0000 PurplePeony 1779120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: yeah, it's kind of amazing! We knew where a lot of our issues were but there are always things you don't think of. The coolest thing was the blower door test, where they hook up a huge fan contraption in your doorway and calculate the rate of air leakage. You can walk around your house and run your hand around door frames, window frames, outlets on exterior walls, etc and feel exactly where air is flowing in. We went around with a roll of blue painters tape to mark the areas we needed to caulk so we didn't forget any. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779101 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:12:15 +0000 regberadaisy 1779101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: BTW thanks for your detailed report. DH &amp; I have a good idea on where our problem areas are. Which shouldn't be too many because the previous home owners spent some good money on double pane windows through the whole house, the spray foamed the whole attic, we replaced all exterior doors with insulated fiberglass doors, furnace and HWH and roof are all mainly new. But I'm sure there are leaks somewhere! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779089 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:08:48 +0000 Smurfette 1779089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What is an energy audit? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779088 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:08:17 +0000 regberadaisy 1779088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: that's not bad at all! Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779081 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:06:55 +0000 PurplePeony 1779081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: our local electric and utility company run a program. It wasn't free, I think they subsidized 75% of the cost and we paid $95 out of pocket. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779072 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:04:18 +0000 regberadaisy 1779072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been meaning to do one. Did you ladies just call your local energy company and was it free? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1779071 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:03:20 +0000 PurplePeony 1779071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, right away we caulked some areas around doors and windows that were leaking air. We also insulated our hot water heater and some of the pipes (it's hard to reach the others...we have insulation tubes for them but haven't made the effort to put them on yet). Later on, we added insulation in the attic and put interior storm windows in the bedrooms. We'll do the living room at some point too, but we have HUGE windows (really cool vintage ones we don't want to change) and it's going to cost bank. Finally, we replaced the door between our house and garage, which was horrible.</p> <p>We still have a lot to do, but at least we know what our priorities are. The auditor really wanted us to replace our oil furnace but it's going to be really complicated and expensive (our street doesn't have a gas line so we'd have to run one, and the quote for the other option of a heat pump was just crazy). So right now we're concentrating on adding insulation where we can, plugging air leaks, and then updating some old appliances. The "baby steps" approach is better for us.</p> <p>So far, adding attic insulation was a fantastic decision -- even with me being home all day while on maternity leave and keeping the house warmer than before because we had a newborn, we're still on track for it to pay for itself in heating cost savings after two more winters (so three years total). And the house hasn't gotten quite as hot this summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-make-any-changes-after-an-energy-audit-on-your-home#post-1778967 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 13:35:11 +0000 autumnlove 1778967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wondering! Our audit is next week. </p>