How to Use the Alliance to Save Energy's Home Energy Check Up

Cutting back on energy consumption is on a lot of people's minds lately. Not only are we trying to reduce our carbon footprints, but we're also trying to make our homes as efficient as possible as a way to reduce energy costs. The Alliance to Save Energy is an organization devoted promoting and creating a more energy-efficient world. One of the ways the group does that is by providing an online Home Energy Checkup that you can use from within your Web browser.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access
• Computer

1. Gather information so that you are prepared to answer a number of questions about where you live, the type of heating and cooling systems you use, information about your appliances and how you believe you can cut back on your own energy consumption.
2. Log onto the Alliance to Save Energy's Home Energy Checkup page (see Resources below). The website is quite extensive, so the best way to locate this particular page is by using the direct link.
3. Click the "How to Use this Home Energy Checkup" link to get more specific directions about the type of information you'll need about your home and climate. If, after reading the page, you are ready to begin, click the "Done" button to return to the main page.
4. Use the "Click Here" link to begin using the system. You will be brought to a page that has a number of sections to complete. Begin by selecting your Climate Zone from the drop-down menu. If you're unsure what Climate Zone you live in, use the "Climate Zone Map" button to get a pop-up window showing nation's zones.
5. Read the information about your Climate Zone that opens in a separate window and if you agree that it sounds accurate, click "Done" so that the Home Energy Checkup will use this information when considering efficiency measures.
6. Choose your type of furnace, air conditioning unit and water heater from the drop-down menus in the Equipment section and then enter your costs for any types of fuel you use. The choices are "Low," "Medium" or "High," but if you're unsure, click on the Help Estimating button.
7. Get ready for the tough part. The next section has a list of a number of home efficiency measures, such as insulation, duct seals, washer/dryer and furnace. For each one, you can select how well you are currently conserving energy (Existing) and what it will be after any improvements you are making (New). Again, if you haven't any idea, click the Estimating button.
8. Click the Doing It button next to any of the components to get a sense of what it would entail to make efficiency changes. The Alliance to Save Energy's pop-up windows provide estimates of cost and materials based on your Climate Zone, as well as contact information for agencies that can help you implement the measures.
9. Read your Summary after you've completed the Checkup. It will tell you how much your energy costs are currently and give a comparison of how much they would be if you made changes. It will also provide you with a sense of how much carbon dioxide your household is producing.

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