Saving energy through energy audits is a first-line strategy, before you even start thinking about getting solar panels, solar heating or wind power connected to your home.

A typical home energy audit identifies around 30% of energy savings. That could be 30% off your power and heating bills for a start. And you can include savings on water use too.

Furthermore, various cities and states offer free energy audits to the householder – where the auditor gets paid by them. Of course there is a follow-up cost for you in acting on the energy auditor’s recommendations. But that’s way cheaper than going for the renewable technology options first.

Even so, various places have free energy efficient light bulb replacement schemes. Caulking your windows and taping gaps under your doors is not going to break the bank. And there’s help out there… Energy efficient mortgage loans and tax deductions for energy efficient homes and businesses are available. So are energy efficiency personal tax credits and many states and localities offer subsidies and other support with weather stripping and caulking.

You’d be mad not to take advantage of these schemes while they are here.

It’s no wonder that energy audit training is filling a growing gap in qualified people entering this career or as an energy-saving business.

Energy audits are not necessarily complex. Got your R20 roof insulation? Energy efficient windows? Blocked all drafts? But there is more. Do you know which appliances take most power? Time to replace those guzzlers with energy star rated ones? Which times you run your washing machine or dishwasher at the cheapest rates?
By all means, after you took care of all that look into renewable energy too and save money and greenhouse emissions.