Energy audits are inspections of existing homes designed to determine how much energy a home uses and which provide a report which makes recommendations describing steps which could be taken to reduce home energy costs.

An energy audit might include the followingâ€¦

A review of energy bills from the past year
Site inspection
Occupant interview
Floor plan review
Temperature and humidity measurements
Survey and testing of electrical appliances and outlets
Assessment of heating and cooling equipment
- System efficiency
- Supply/return air balance
Water heater and water flow rates
Inspection of the thermal envelope
- Roof covering material
- Windows
- Doors
- Penetrations such as
  - Flue chases
  - Attic access
  - Whole house fans
- Presence of air barriers/retarders
- Blower door testing (air infiltration)
- Ducts (insulation and leakage tests)
- Insulation levels
- Wall assembly
  - Interior wall coverings
  - Framing type
  - Drainage plane
  - Exterior wall cladding
- crawlspace/basement assessment
Lighting type inventory
Ventilation
Combustion safety and efficiency

Audits can be performed both by homeowners using simple checklists or by professionals trained to analyze annual energy bills and using sophisticated instruments such as blower doors, which measure home air leakage rates, and thermal imaging cameras, which show differences in temperature and can be used to find areas of low insulation, air leakage and electrical or moisture problems.

Although training for those wishing to perform Home Energy Audits is basically identical to that of Home Energy Raters, very little standardization exists for Energy Audits and details of services offered are likely to vary among auditors.

ENERGY STAR do-it-yourself home energy audits

U.S. Dept. of Energy do-it-yourself home energy audits

Sample Energy Audit information and Checklist- scroll down near the bottom of the page to "Residential Energy Auditing Techniques"

Peak to Prairie Home Inspection Service

Home Energy Audits