Getting An Energy Rating For Your Home: Everything You Need To Know
This article originally appeared on urbansplatter.com
When it comes to energy efficiency, most homeowners have one clear goal in mind: saving money. However, homes today have a much higher energy use than what they used to. In the past, homes had open layouts and weren’t as compartmentalized as they are today.
Homeowners used to have more control over their energy use and usage patterns. Today’s lifestyles require more energy than ever before.
So, in order to start saving money, it’s imperative that you hire energy assessors to give you an energy rating for your home right now! An energy rating assesses the energy efficiency of a building and identifies ways to make it more efficient so as to lower your utility bills and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.
In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about how to get an energy rating for your home, and what impact it will have on your monthly utility bills.
What Is an Energy Rating?
An energy rating is a standardized assessment of a home’s energy efficiency. A building with a high rating is considered highly efficient, which means it uses less energy than a similar building would with a lower rating. The lower the energy rating, the less efficient your home is at using energy.
When you get an energy rating for your home, the energy assessors will do a detailed assessment of how efficient your home is. They will measure the amount of energy used by your home, as well as the specific inputs (e.g. the type of lighting used, or the efficiency of air conditioning units).
While the rating is based on a particular type of home, it can be helpful to see how your home compares to similar homes, which can help you decide whether or not to make improvements.
Benefits of Getting an Energy Rating
Save Money on Utility Bills
When you know how efficient your home is, you can make adjustments to reduce your energy consumption. For example, you can close curtains if sunlight is leaking in, or turn off appliances when you aren’t using them.
Increase the Resale Value of Your Home
An energy rating can help you determine if there is an increase in value if you decide to sell your home. If you know that a large renovation would result in lower energy efficiency, you can factor that into your decision of whether to sell or keep your home.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
By knowing how much energy you’re consuming, you can set up measures to make your house more energy efficient and consequentially, lower your greenhouse gases emissions.
How To Get An Energy Rating For Your Home?
There are several methods for getting an energy rating for your home. The most common method is to use a third-party company. If you choose this option, you will need to talk to a representative from your energy provider, take some measurements inside your home, and provide some information about the fixtures in your home.
Another option is to get an energy audit, which is when an energy rating company takes a detailed look at your home and makes recommendations for improving its energy efficiency.
In Conclusion
There are several reasons why you should get an energy rating for your home. First, it can help you estimate how much energy your home uses and make improvements if necessary. Second, you can use the rating to determine if there is an increase in value if you decide to sell your home.
Ultimately, an energy rating can help protect your family in case of a natural disaster by ensuring that your home is as energy-efficient as possible.