Get An Energy Audit & Make Changes

Quick Facts Affordability Cost Savings CO2 Reduction		An energy audit is a great way to start making your home more energy efficient. Home energy auditors are trained to view your house as a system. They will give your house a current and potential energy efficiency rating and let you know what is working and what needs to be upgraded. Auditors are not out to sell you specific products and you are under no obligation to make the improvements they suggest. Affordability The federal government's Home Renovation Tax Credit and ecoENERGY incentives add up to big savings on renovations. Cost savings An energy audit can point out the areas where you are losing the most heat and the most effective things you can do to improve its efficiency. Follow through with the recommended upgrades and changes and you could save $100 or more a year on your energy bill. Health & comfort A professional energy auditor will assess your home’s ventilation and humidity, as well as heat loss areas. Their goal is to advise you on ways to make your house more comfortable as well as energy efficient. Environmental considerations To deliver on the BC Energy Plan target of B.C. electricity self-sufficiency by 2016, British Columbians must learn to minimize their consumption. Minimized demand allows us to continue to rely on clean and renewable electricity. CO2 reductions via reduced consumption in gas-heated homes have an immediate impact.

What you need to know

• A home audit will only reduce energy use if you follow through with improvements.
• Define an energy reduction target from the start and use the auditor’s assessment to develop a plan and timeline for making efficiency upgrades.
• Auditors use testing equipment and computer software to quantify heat loss and humidity levels in your home.
• An audit will explain how all the components of your house work together, what different energy efficiency products can do and can help you make informed decisions on the most effective upgrades for your home.
• Increased heat efficiency does not have to be costly or time consuming. Depending on your home’s needs and your living habits, there are many quick and inexpensive actions you can take to reduce energy costs, increase your comfort and shrink your ecological footprint.
• Energy auditor’s can point out federal and provincial grants and incentives to help pay for the upgrades you need.
• Find the improvements you are ready to make. Change is a progression. Challenge yourself one step at a time.

FAQ

If I cannot afford renovations right now, does it make sense to have an audit?
It is always beneficial to know where your energy use is least efficient so you can make a home energy improvement plan. Not all upgrades are costly and some of them quickly pay for themselves by reducing your energy bill. The Incentives program will not offer a rebate for the audit if you don’t make any changes, but the cost is generally about $150, plus GST.