The term “audit” usually connotes painful and embarrassing exposure, followed by penalties and fines. My recent energy audit was quite the contrary. I found the process fascinating, eye-opening, and rewarding.

Looking to reduce our oil bills, we turned to my go-to professional for all energy questions, Jack Christmann, LEED AP and principal of Energy Appreciators, a Building Performance Institute (BPI)-accredited contractor in New Paltz. Unprompted, Jack generously donated a home energy audit worth upwards of $400 for the purpose of educating New York House readers (and its editor).

BPI audits take a whole-home approach to ensure health and safety—they measure not only energy usage, but also indoor air quality, including emissions from combustion appliances, the presence of mold, and other potential problems.

Jack’s colleague Mike Bennett conducted a room-by-room analysis, assessing the R-value of the walls and windows and checking our appliances. Then he conducted a blower-door test to measure air volume and pinpoint leakage. It was amazing to see the numbers spike on his handheld meter as he walked through places we didn’t know were drafty. Besides providing a complete home performance analysis and estimates for alternative systems and energy-saving products, the auditor detailed cost/benefit ratios and recommended key measures.

I was surprised to learn the only insulation we need is at the rim joist, where the wood frame meets the foundation, and on the basement and crawl space walls. Insulating both (a cost of $3,500) would reduce the “stack effect” of air infiltration and heat loss, but would save us about $130 per year on heating and make the space more comfortable.

The other recommendation is air sealing the entire home, a cost of $2,800, which would save us more than $300 per year. This is the easiest way to save energy and money while also feeling snug in the home’s “tight envelope,” Bennett explained.

Surprising was what the audit didn’t recommend. It would be less cost effective to upgrade the basement and crawl space ceiling insulation, or insulate the attic rafters. Replacing the oil burner is in our future, but at more than $8,000, it’s not a top priority, a finding the audit confirmed in cost effectiveness and payback.

All told, the work we need would reduce our energy usage by 20 percent. With the NYSERDA 10-percent cash-back incentive and the $1,500 federal stimulus tax credit, our total cost would equal just over $4,000. For every dollar we spend on improvements, we’d get $1.30 back in cost savings, the audit found. Now that’s what I call rewarding.

For more on the program, visit getenergysmart.org or call (877) NY-SMART.

Your neighbor,

Nancy Meyer