Southampton - A home energy audit can be the first step to a greener home. There are various ways to assess how much energy your home uses and evaluate what measures can be taken to improve efficiency. You can perform an energy audit yourself, or have a professional perform an audit for free.

If you're into DIY, try a simple but diligent walk-through of your home and keep a checklist of any problems you find. This list will help you to prioritize your energy efficiency upgrades.

Start by taking note of any air leaks or drafts near electrical outlets, window frames, baseboards, attic hatches, and wall or window-mounted air conditioners. The potential energy savings from reducing drafts ranges from five percent to 30 percent per year, not to mention the home is usually more comfortable afterward.

If you have trouble locating the leaks, you may want to conduct a basic pressurization test by closing all your exterior doors, windows, and fireplace flues. Next, turn off all combustion appliances such as water heaters and gas burning furnaces. Then, switch on all exhaust fans, which are generally located in the kitchen and bathroom, or use a large window fan to suck the air out of the house.

This test increases air flow through cracks and leaks, making them easier to detect. You can use incense sticks to locate these leaks - the moving air will cause the incense smoke to waver.
You also need to check your insulation for heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home. Although your home's builder probably installed the correct amount of insulation initially, the level might be inadequate today, especially if you have an older home.

Inspect your heating and cooling equipment annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer. If you have a forced-air furnace, check your filters and replace them regularly. Have a professional check and clean your equipment once a year.

If your heating or cooling unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing the system with one of the newer, energy-efficient models. A new unit would greatly reduce your energy consumption, especially if the existing equipment is in poor condition.

On the outside of your house, inspect all of the areas where different building materials meet, such as siding and chimneys, exterior corners, or areas where the exterior brick or siding come together with the foundation.

If this walk-through seems labor intensive, try the five-minute DIY version. Gather your last 12 months of utility bills and use the Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick at www.energystar.gov to compare your home's efficiency to similar houses across the country and to get recommendations for energy-saving improvements. For this DIY audit, you will also need to enter some basic information about your home, such as zip code, age, square footage, and the number of occupants. If you don't have your bills, you can contact your utility company for a 12-month summary.

If you'd rather get custom recommendations for improving your home's efficiency, consider contacting a professional Home Energy Auditor. LIPA offers a free inspection of your appliances, lighting, and heating and cooling systems to determine energy-efficiency. The LIPA team will even install energy saving devices in your home at no cost to you, since audits alone don't save energy.

 • For more information, contact LIPA at 1-800-263-6786 or reap.lipa@honeywell.com.