Best energy efficiency auditors near Bloomfield, NM

HVAC systems use the most household electricity. This major and essential system is responsible for heating and cooling your home all year round. Since they operate for a significant amount during the day, it consumes more energy than other appliances. 

Typically, a local home energy auditor is responsible for performing energy audits. A home energy auditor will conduct one of three energy audits designed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to determine the energy efficiency of your home. The auditor often provides analysis that can help guide changes and improvements to your home for better energy efficiency, giving recommendations as necessary.

Fireplaces can theoretically help you save on heating bills if you lower the temperature throughout the rest of your home and heat only a single room that you occupy using the fireplace. However, in most cases, homeowners won’t save any money on heating bills. Gas and electric fireplace inserts could actually lead to a spike in your respective energy bills if you use them frequently, and if you don’t keep up with chimney maintenance and repairs, your traditional masonry fireplace could actually be a source of heat loss in the winter.

A good SEER rating for an HVAC system is typically between 15 and 20. However, minimum requirements vary by location; HVAC systems in northern states must have at least a 14 SEER rating, while those in southern states need a minimum of 15. For the highest possible efficiency, look for units with a SEER rating of 21 or higher. It's important to remember that a SEER rating represents the maximum efficiency a unit can achieve, not the level at which it will operate at all times.