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Home Energy Audit Moving Us Closer to Energy Efficiency

By Solar energy | November 11, 2008

Our Home Energy Audit Moves Us Closer to Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is our mission at this stage of our solar home energy journey. The less energy we use, the less we will pay for a home solar energy system. There are steps in this process. Although some of these steps are costly, some are very inexpensive.

Each week I’ve been posting what we have learned from our energy audit to be more energy efficient. While the big-ticket items, like air conditioning and hot water, matter most, smaller details add up.

My DIY home energy audit revealed air leaks around the electrical outlets and switches on the outside wall of my house. A candle flame held next to the outlet blew over in the air draft from the outlet. Here’s the picture.

Our auditor helped me understand why outside wall outlets are major air leaks. When homes are constructed, and the wall insulated, a fairly large area around the electrical outlets are left un-insulated. This tactic allows electricians working room to do their job installing electrical outlets. Thus, we have air leaks around electrical outlets positioned on the outside walls of our homes.

Well, our auditor gave us some handy little Switch & Outlet Sealers to install behind the outlets and switches. These simple polyethylene foam rectangles stop drafts and insulate. They were easy to install:

•    Remove switch or outlet plate
•    Remove precut inserts from sealers
•    Put sealer in place and put plate back on

If you have a professional audit, your auditor may supply you with these Switch & Outlet Sealers. However, you can buy these yourself at your local Home Depot or hardware store.

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