An audit doesn't lower the bill by itself. It shows where the house loses energy and which fixes come first. The savings come from the work.
What audits usually recommend
The Department of Energy lists these as common recommendations:
- Air sealing the whole house
- Adding insulation to the attic, foundation or walls
- Sealing and insulating ducts in unheated spaces
- Fixing moisture or mold
- More efficient heating, cooling and water heating equipment
What that work saves
ENERGY STAR puts the saving from sealing air leaks and adding insulation at up to 10% of a year's energy bills. Older, leakier homes can save more.
On a $180 monthly gas and electric bill, 10% is up to $18 a month, or $216 a year. That saving pays back the audit and the work together, after the work's own Xcel rebates. The audit alone saves nothing. The cost estimator runs it with your bill and the price of the work.
What else you get
- A combustion safety test and carbon monoxide check on gas appliances.
- With Squad Plus, the installs: LED bulbs, weather-stripping, showerheads and aerators.
- Entry to Xcel's Whole Home Efficiency program, which needs an audit before the upgrades start.
After the report
Insulation and air sealing go to the contractors on Xcel's list. We don't do that work.
When the report names a heat pump or a heat pump water heater, send it to us with a few photos. We send back a price after rebates, then confirm it in person. Sealing first can mean a smaller heat pump, so tell us if that work is planned.
Send your report or try the cost estimator with your own bill.