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You can audit your energy use without calling a professional. Energy bills have grown significantly over the past few years and show no sign of slowing down. So understanding what you use can help you cut the bills, from doing a home walkthrough to taking note of habits.

Review Your Bills and Usage

When you want to cut waste and save some money, reviewing the bills is a major part of discovering your energy usage. Any proper audit should include accurate data, and reviewing the bills is an excellent way to do this. Energy bills typically state how much energy you have used over a given period, but it doesn't break it down. If you want to know how many watts your AC uses, it is pretty hard to tell from a bill, but you can check the manual or manufacturer's site.

Walk Through the Home

A quick walk through the house can help identify where the biggest offenders are. For example, you can check that switches are off when something isn't being used, or remove phantom power drainers such as smartphone chargers that aren't being used. You can also save on heating by checking for air gaps around doors and window seals, or cold spots where insulation isn't performing as it should. You can also check where older lightbulbs can be replaced with LEDs.

Audit Your Energy Use with Smart Tech

It is estimated that around 35% of energy in US homes is wasted or not used efficiently. There are many ways you can boost energy efficiency to reduce the impact on the planet and save some money doing it. This also includes using smart tech that helps you track your usage:

• Smart meters provide real-time info and historical data to check usage patterns.

• Home energy monitors can connect to your electrical panel and individual appliances.

• Some smart plugs and strips can be controlled remotely and come with usage apps.

Take Note of Habits

Your home might be among the most energy-efficient available. However, it is only as efficient as the people who use it. While conducting an energy audit, you can take note of personal and family habits concerning energy usage. For instance, are lights being left on, or are devices being placed into energy saver modes? You can also program water and heating controls to ensure they are being heated efficiently, and even consider installing low-flow water products.

Call a Professional Energy Auditor

A DIY energy audit is an excellent springboard for savings and reducing your environmental impact. Just by walking through the home, you can spot potential issues with water, heating, and energy usage. However, it is unlikely you will spot everything, and a professional can be a major help. A certified energy auditor can conduct a detailed audit of your home and make recommendations, which can be particularly useful if your bills are seemingly getting higher.

Summary

Reviewing energy bills is a great start to audit your energy and begin to make changes that can save money. Smart tech such as power strips can also provide more control over energy usage. If your bills are seemingly getting higher for no reason, an expert energy auditor might help.