How energy efficient is your home?
Our Home Energy Audit lets you make the most of your energy dollar. It's a great way to save energy at home and help offset today's higher energy prices. Our state-certified energy auditor will help you learn:
- Techniques to lower your home’s energy use.
- How much money you could save when you use less energy.
- How energy efficiency can also improve your comfort year-round.
We offer two different types of audits – one covering the basics; the other a more in-depth energy analysis. Select the one that best meets your needs, based on the condition of your home and your energy concerns.
Our Standard Energy Audit and Home Performance Audit are available to all CenterPoint Energy residential heating customers.
Standard Energy Audit, $25*
A basic overview of your energy use
A state-certified energy auditor will conduct a basic energy analysis of your home and leave you a complete report with all the details, including specific actions you can take to improve your home's energy efficiency.
- Heating and structural efficiency
- Conduct efficiency and other checks of your space heating equipment.
- Provide other simple energy-saving improvements to increase your heating efficiency, such as replacing furnace filters, etc.
- Recommend ways to seal air leaks and generally tighten your home, including adding weatherstripping, upgrading insulation, replacing windows or doors, and much more.
- Water heating and other efficiencies
- Water heating. Review your hot water use and water heater temperature setting, and suggest ways to save energy.
- Air conditioning. Suggest ways to improve the efficiency of your cooling system, including regular servicing and cleaning.
- Laundry. Check water temperature settings, dryer use and other laundry practices for energy-saving measures.
- Refrigerator/freezer. Show how regular cleaning and other simple changes can make a difference.
- Lighting. Provide options and alternatives to save energy.
- Natural gas consumption. Analyze the heat factor of your natural gas and review your consumption history.
Free weatherization materials
Your auditor may also provide you with up to $25 of basic weatherization materials at no additional charge to help you get started in making efficiency improvements. These might include weatherstripping for windows and doors, plastic sheeting kits for windows, door sweeps, spray cans of insulating foam or pipe insulation, depending on what the auditor determines your home will need.
Your energy audit will be conveniently billed on your CenterPoint Energy bill after it has taken place.
*For some income levels, there may be no fee for this Audit.
Home Performance Audit, $100*
A more in-depth analysis of your energy use
This process takes a more thorough look into your home's energy situation, providing detailed information for greater potential energy savings. It helps you uncover hidden problems and includes specific suggestions for improvements.
You’ll also get information about your equipment operating costs, detailed reports, fact sheets and a CD-Rom.
This program provides you with all the services of our Standard Energy Audit, plus three valuable additions:
- A blower-door test that uses calibrated fans and pressure gauges to measure and track airflow and determine the general location of air leaks.
- An infrared inspection that uses an infrared camera to further pinpoint the location of air leaks and moisture problems. This scan will help you develop solutions to attic bypass air leaks, the elimination of ice dams and reduction of overall conditioned air loss and energy consumption.
- A combustion safety test and carbon monoxide (CO) check that measures draft pressure when all exhaust fans are on to determine if flue gasses might spill into the house under similar conditions. CO levels will also be measured, if present.**
Your energy audit will be conveniently billed on your CenterPoint Energy bill after it has taken place.
*For some income levels, there may be no fee for this Audit.
**Tests cannot be performed on all heating systems.
For some homes, our Standard Energy Audit is sufficient. For others, there can be significant benefit in having our Home Performance Audit.
If you check two or more of the following, our Home Performance Audit may be for you.
- Ice dams on the roof.
- Moisture or frost in the attic.
- Mold or moisture spots on interior walls.
- Condensation on your windows.
- Stains around ceiling exhaust fan(s).
- Cold spots in areas of the house.
- Inadequate or older insulation.
It's easy to request an audit
Just complete our online energy audit form or call 612-321-5011 (1-800-234-5800, ext. 5011) to sign up.
We will mail you additional details within a few days of your request. Then our certified energy auditor will contact you to schedule a convenient time within four to six weeks to conduct your audit.
Our Home Energy Audits are meant only to show you how you can increase the efficiency and comfort of your home and potentially reduce your energy costs. You are under no obligation to make the suggested improvements, and you can trust our auditor to be objective.
Energy saving tip
Seal air leaks! Every home is different, but a very leaky house can cost up to 40% more to heat or cool due to lost energy. More energy saving tips.
