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Quick Facts

Affordability
Cost Savings
CO2 Reduction

An energy audit is likely the best place to start if you want to make 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 energy efficiency incentives through LiveSmartBC provide savings for renovations. And check out BC Hydro's Incentives page for energy efficient rebates and other offers.

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 and reduces the need for new infrastructure. In addition, the CO2 reductions from reduced energy consumption in gas-heated homes have an immediate positive 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 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 auditors can point out federal and provincial grants and incentives to help pay for the upgrades you need.
  • Identify improvements you are ready to make. Change is a progression. Challenge yourself one step at a time.

FAQ

I've heard that some of the incentive programs are getting cut. Does it still make sense to have an audit?
It's always beneficial to know what part of your system is least efficient so you can make a home energy improvement plan. If you are planning any renovations, an audit will help guide the most energy efficient changes for your home. Not all upgrades are costly and some of them quickly pay for themselves by reducing your energy bill.
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Last Modified: Apr 23, 2012

 

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