How to Assess Mechanical Systems for Your Home Energy Audit
Posted: Saturday, October 03, 2009
by Dan Bossenbroek
Just Green Homes
This step in developing your own Home Energy Audit will help you examine the major working parts or the mechanical systems of your home. This may sound complicated, but below is a worksheet that will make it easy as 1, 2, 3 (repeat.) 1: Take a look at a system, 2: take a photo, and 3: mark the results below (repeat.) Just print out this article and get to work.
Heating System:
- Type: Furnace, Boiler, Baseboard, Stove, Heat Pump (Ground or Air Source), Solar: ___________________, Other ____________
- Efficiency: _______%
- Size: ____________
- Fuel Type: Natural Gas, Propane, Fuel Oil, Electricity, Wood, Pellet, Coal, Solar, Other _____________
Cooling System:
- Type: Condenser, Window Unit, Heat Pump (Ground or Air Source), Whole House Fan, Window Fans, Passive Thermal, Other ____________
- Efficiency: _______%
- Size: ____________
- Fuel Type: Natural Gas, Propane, Electricity, Other _____________
Distribution System:
- Type: Ducts, Pipes, Radiators, Steam, Hot Water, In Floor Radiant, Other ________________
- Insulation Type: None, Sealed, Radiant, Fiberglass, Other ______________
Hot Water Heater:
- Type: Tank, Tank-less, Solar, Other ________________
- Efficiency: _______%
- Size: ____________
- Fuel Type: Natural Gas, Propane, Fuel Oil, Electricity, Heat Pump, Sun, Other _____________
- Pipe Insulation Type: None, Sealed, Foam, Radiant, Fiberglass, Other ______________
Thermostat:
- Type: Standard, Programmable (5 day/2 day, 5/1/1 day, or 7 day), Other ________________
- Settings:
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Week Day |
Weekend Day |
Evening |
Night |
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Summer Temperature (°F) |
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Winter Temperature (°F) |
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Now you have completed the first five steps for your Home Energy Audit and you are well on your way to understanding where all of that energy that you pay for is used. The goal of the audit is to find the most cost effective ways to save energy and water. The end goal is to implement energy and water saving strategies and install energy conservation products and save hundreds if not thousands of dollars, every year.
Dan Bossenbroek is a registered architect and has been incorporating energy conservation design strategies into his projects for over seventeen years. He has extensive experience in residential design, is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED™ AP) and his area of expertise is high performance buildings and sustainable design. Furthermore, he is an avid do-it-yourselfer having renovated several older homes. For energy saving products and home improvement advice he recommends www.justgreenhomes.net
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