I found out my utility company would send someone to my house for free to tell me where I was wasting energy, and I almost did not believe it. I called, they booked me in, and the visit ended up saving me real money on every bill after that. Most people do not know this exists.

What an Energy Audit Does

An auditor walks through your home and finds where heat or cold air leaks out, checks your insulation, and looks at your heating and cooling systems. You get a report listing the biggest problems and what to fix first. The whole thing is usually free because utilities want you to use less energy.

How to Get One

1. Call your utility company and ask about a free home energy audit.
2. Schedule a visit, which usually takes an hour or two.
3. Ask about rebates. Many utilities pay for part of the fixes they recommend.

What I Fixed

The auditor found my attic insulation was thin and my front door leaked air like a sieve. I added weather stripping around the door and got a rebate for extra attic insulation. My heating bill dropped noticeably the first winter after. Even the small fixes, like caulking windows, paid for themselves within months.

It cost me nothing but a phone call and a couple hours of my time.