An energy audit is an assessment of how much energy a home consumes and the development of a plan to make the home more energy efficient. An energy audit can not only reveal ways to help conserve precious energy, it can also save you significant amounts of money by maximizing energy efficiency in your household. During an audit, an expert examines the building for energy leakages (such as air leaks) as well as ways to maximize energy usage (such as with more efficient lighting and heating/cooling systems).
You can conduct your own energy audit by following the instructions of the U.S. Department of Energy at it's website or you can hire a professional auditor to do a more thorough examination of your home’s energy efficiency. Many utility companies also offer free or discounted energy audits to their customers, so check with your utility company before you schedule an audit. Following the audit, try to implement as many of the suggestions as you can to maximize your home’s energy savings.