Energy Efficiency Auditing questions, answered by experts
Blower door tests are measured in a few different ways, but the most popular are air changes per hour (ACH) and cubic feet of air (CFM) moving through the house per hour. A good ACH score is less than 2ACH, but 1ACH is better. This means the house experiences a total air change within 60 minutes (for 1ACH). For 2ACH, there’s a complete change every 30 minutes, and so on. CFM scores are similar in that a lower score means less air change, and therefore less leakage.
Window AC units use a fair amount of electricity, but significantly less than central AC systems. Because they are more energy-efficient for cooling individual rooms or small spaces, their usage is comparatively low. On average, a window AC unit consumes between 500 and 1,400 watts, while a central AC system uses over 3,500 watts—meaning a window unit uses about one-third of the energy. This typically translates to a monthly running cost of $15 to $40, although this can vary depending on external factors.
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.
The difference between an energy auditor and a home inspector is primarily in the purpose of the inspection. The energy auditor conducts tests in your home to determine the energy efficiency levels in areas like windows, insulation, and doorways. The auditor then makes recommendations for ways to improve a home’s energy efficiency.
A home inspector examines various structures of your home to determine that everything is up to code and gauge the condition of features like the roof, foundation, HVAC, and electrical. The home inspector reports on the overall home and makes repair recommendations.
A small sump pump running infrequently uses an average of 10 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per month. The average cost for electricity is $0.171 per kWh. The size and use frequency affect how much electricity it uses. Sump pumps average one-third to one horsepower (hp) motors. One hp is equal to 745.7 watts. Watts multiplied by the time your pump is running divided by 1,000 equals your average kWh. Multiply kWh by your average cost of electricity. In areas with high rain or a marsh basin, the average cost can be as high as $15-$25 a month.
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