Home Energy Audit Costs Per Square Foot
A home energy audit costs anywhere from $0.08 to $0.50 per square foot, though most energy auditors will offer you a flat rate based on the size of your property and the types of tests needed to conduct the audit.
How Much Does It Cost to Do an Energy Audit Near You?
The average cost nationwide for an energy audit is $422, but prices can vary depending on where you live. The following prices reflect the average rates in a few popular cities across the U.S.:
| City | Cost |
|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $700 |
| Boston, MA | $550 |
| Chicago | $450 |
| Denver, CO | $275 |
| Miami, FL | $750 |
| New York | $800 |
| San Francisco, CA | $300 |
Drastic differences in the cost of an energy audit by city may be due to the average size of the home and the local going rates. For example, the average home size in San Francisco is just 1,150 square feet, while the average home size in Austin is just over 2,000 square feet.
Energy Audit Cost Breakdown by Test
Here’s a breakdown of the types of tests that may be performed and their average costs:
| Test | Cost |
|---|---|
| Blower Door Test Cost | $350 |
| Duct Testing Cost | $100 |
| HERS Test Cost | $375 |
| HERS Certification Cost | $200 |
| Infrared Imaging Cost | $200 |
Your auditor may choose any or all tests, depending on your needs. Some of these prices might be discounted as part of a packaged deal, so be sure to check with your energy auditor to receive an accurate estimate.
How Much Does a Home Energy Audit Cost by ASHRAE Level?
There are so many areas of your home that an energy auditor can evaluate, making it hard to add up all the tests to estimate the total cost.
Thankfully, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) created three levels to make it easier to get an idea of what kind of audit you need based on your property. And, though the ASHRAE levels are for commercial energy audits, residential energy auditors often use the levels as a template for their audits.
Below are the three standard levels of an energy audit:
Level 1 (Walk-Through Audit)
Also known as a simple audit, the level 1 energy audit is at the lower end of the price range. An 1,800-square-foot home will fall between $150 and $200, or between $0.08 and $0.12 per square foot for this type of exam.
In a level 1 audit, your auditor will perform a brief walk-through of your home and review your utility bills to see if there are any obvious signs of an energy problem. They will also provide you with a cost and savings analysis for measures you can take to fix any issues, though any complex or less obvious issues will warrant a more thorough audit.
Level 2 (Energy Survey and Analysis)
The level 2 ASHRAE energy audit is a more in-depth survey of the energy usage in your home and runs between $200 to $650, or $0.12 to $0.35 per square foot, for an average 1,800-square-foot home.
This level looks closely at your past utility bills to evaluate how your house uses natural gas and electricity. You’ll receive a detailed financial report that helps you gauge the best financial decisions for cost savings.
Level 3 (Detailed Analysis and Improvements)
As the most comprehensive energy audit, a level three energy audit will run for approximately $650 to $900, or between $0.36 to $0.50 per square foot, for an average 1,800-square-foot home. Though this audit is most commonly conducted in commercial areas, you may want a level 3 audit if you suspect your home might require technical renovations to make it more energy-efficient.
Keep in mind that these estimates are for the average home size. For smaller or larger homes, anticipate spending less or more, respectively.
What Factors Influence the Cost of a Home Energy Audit?
The biggest cost factors that influence how much your home energy audit will cost include the following:
Types of tests conducted: Again, the types of tests needed for your home can mean the difference between hundreds of dollars.
Size of the home: Since pricing is generally done by the square foot, you might pay $200 to $300 more for a home that’s in the 2,500 to 5,000-square-foot price range.
Your auditor’s going rates: Some auditors have packages that include discounted testing on add-ons for your basic analysis. The same blower door and duct leakage tests that cost around $150 to $200 each if conducted alone may only cost an additional $35 to $50.
How Much Does It Cost to DIY a Home Energy Audit?
Unless you’re a trained professional, walking around in search of energy-wasting issues in your home can feel akin to walking aimlessly through a labyrinth.
Though you might be able to get away with a basic DIY energy audit by caulking your windows, doorways, and foundational cracks and searching for glaringly obvious culprits, it’s very much a trial-and-error type of project that will likely cost you more time and effort in the long-run without the energy savings you’d get with a comprehensive assessment.
We recommend you hire a local energy auditor to do the job. Your local pro will advise you on other local companies who can efficiently repair or replace issues in your home, helping you save the most on your energy bills.
