Home Energy Audit
A Self-Guided Diagnostic for Reducing Home Energy Waste
PRODUCT TIER: $97 // HOMEOWNER RESILIENCE LINE
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HOME ENERGY AUDIT
A Self-Guided Diagnostic for Reducing Home Energy Waste
No contractor required to start.
Built from EPA / DOE / Energy Star published methodology.
Findings feed directly into: Solar Feasibility Report, Battery Storage Sizing, and Microgrid Design.
PRODUCT TIER: $97 // HOMEOWNER RESILIENCE LINE
scifibot.xyz@gmail.com // accountsreceivables.crypto
WHY THIS MATTERS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program estimates the average American household spends over $2,200 a year on energy bills, with close to half of that going toward heating and cooling alone.
Air leaks and inadequate insulation are consistently cited by the Department of Energy as one of the largest sources of that waste — commonly estimated at 25–40% of a home's heating/cooling energy loss.
EPA's own modeling (Energy Star, 'Methodology for Estimated Energy Savings') finds that air sealing plus attic/floor/rim-joist insulation upgrades save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs — about 11% of total energy costs — for a typical existing U.S. home.
WHAT THIS AUDIT DOES
This guide walks you through the same categories a professional energy auditor checks first — before any blower-door test or infrared camera — so you can find your highest-value fixes without paying for a full assessment.
PART 1: BUILDING ENVELOPE
ATTIC & INSULATION
Check insulation depth against your climate zone's recommended R-value (DOE publishes zone maps). Look for compressed, gapped, or missing insulation around hatch openings and HVAC chases.
AIR LEAKS
On a windy or cold day, hold a lit incense stick or candle near windows, door frames, outlet covers, baseboards, and dryer vents. Consistent flame movement indicates a leak. DOE notes the average U.S. home has roughly half a mile of cumulative gaps and cracks.
WINDOWS & DOORS
Air leakage through windows alone is commonly estimated at ~10% of a home's total energy loss (DOE Energy Savers). Check for worn weatherstripping and gaps around frames.
FOUNDATION / CRAWLSPACE
Inspect rim joists and sill plates — a frequently overlooked leak point named directly in EPA's own savings methodology.
PART 2: SYSTEMS
DUCTWORK
Field studies (Retrotec / building-science field data) put typical existing-home duct leakage between 12–35%, with flex duct running outside the conditioned envelope as the most common culprit. Look for disconnected boots, crushed flex runs, and unsealed joints in attics/crawlspaces.
WATER HEATER
Check tank temperature (120°F is the standard efficiency/safety recommendation) and feel the tank and first 3 feet of pipe for heat loss — an insulating jacket is a near-zero-cost fix.
HVAC FILTER & VENTS
A clogged filter forces the system to run longer per cycle. Check filter condition and confirm no vents are blocked by furniture or rugs.
LIGHTING & APPLIANCES
Note remaining incandescent bulbs and the age of major appliances — refrigerators and water heaters over 10–15 years old are past their efficient-operating window.
YOUR AUDIT SCORECARD
Rate each item 0 (needs work) to 2 (good condition). A score under 12 suggests air sealing + insulation should be your first project — the highest-ROI fix per EPA's own modeling.
- Attic insulation depth/condition
- Air leaks at windows/doors/outlets
- Rim joist / crawlspace sealing
- Ductwork condition & insulation
- Water heater temp & insulation
- HVAC filter condition
- Lighting (LED vs incandescent)
- Appliance age (10-15+ yrs)
TOTAL SCORE: _____ / 16
WHEN TO CALL A PRO
A DIY audit finds the obvious issues. A professional blower-door test and infrared scan quantifies exactly where and how much air is moving — worth it if your scorecard total is under 10, or before any insulation/HVAC investment over $2,000.
WHERE THIS LEADS
SOLAR FEASIBILITY REPORT ($147)If your envelope is reasonably tight, your next question is generation — this report scopes whether your roof/site supports solar.
BATTERY STORAGE SIZING ($197)Once generation is scoped, sizing storage against your actual load profile is the next decision point.
MICROGRID DESIGN ($497)For a full resilience build — generation, storage, and load management designed as one system.
Sources: U.S. EPA Energy Star ('Methodology for Estimated Energy Savings'); U.S. Department of Energy Energy Savers program; Retrotec building-science field data. This guide provides general, publicly available best practices and does not substitute for a licensed home energy auditor's on-site assessment.
