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Warning: I spent $300 on a 'green' home energy audit that gave me useless advice
I mean, I got this audit done six months ago because I wanted to cut my gas bill and help out. The guy came out, looked at my place for maybe an hour, and gave me a report. It basically just said to get better light bulbs and turn down my thermostat, stuff I already knew. Idk, maybe it's just me but I feel like I paid $300 for common sense tips I could find online for free. Has anyone else had a bad experience with an energy audit, or know a better way to figure out real fixes for an old house?
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oliver_ward142mo ago
That's such a rip off, man. A real audit should use a blower door test to find drafts and a thermal camera to show where your walls are actually losing heat. They should check your attic insulation depth and your furnace's efficiency. Telling you to change light bulbs is a joke, that's like step zero. You gotta find someone certified who actually brings the tools to measure stuff, not just look around.
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laura_ross1mo ago
Totally get your frustration, I used to think those audits were all the same. Reading what oliver_ward14 said about the blower door test and thermal camera really changed my mind. My first audit was like yours, just basic tips, and it felt like a waste. Then I found a certified auditor who actually used those tools and showed me the real leaks, like around my foundation and attic hatch. The difference was night and day, they gave me a real plan for fixes that would actually save money. You really have to find someone who does the testing, not just the looking.
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