Which Home Energy Upgrades Should I Consider First?

Step-by-Step

1. 1

   Collect a useful baseline

   Gather utility bills across different seasons and note unusual occupancy changes. List rooms that feel drafty, damp, or unevenly heated. Check filter condition and thermostat settings without opening equipment cabinets. Ask an energy professional which tests could explain the pattern, including whether ventilation or combustion equipment needs a safety review before air sealing. Keep these notes in a dedicated home file with the date and any supporting photos. That gives the person helping you a clear starting point and reduces the need to reconstruct events from memory.

2. 2

   Compare connected improvements

   Ask how insulation, air sealing, ventilation, and equipment sizing affect one another. Request a written scope identifying materials and locations instead of accepting a vague whole house package. Address water intrusion before adding insulation. If equipment replacement is proposed, ask what measurements support the size and whether envelope improvements would change that recommendation. Ask for plain language explanations of recommendations you do not understand. Record the answer and any limits of the evaluation so you can distinguish confirmed findings from questions that still need investigation.

3. 3

   Choose a measured next step

   Compare project costs using the same scope and assumptions. Verify any incentive directly with the program administrator before treating it as available money. Track comfort and energy use afterward, while recognizing that weather and household habits change. Keep documentation so later contractors understand what was installed and where hidden materials or sealed openings are located. Set a reminder to review the outcome after the work or decision is complete. Save written instructions and contact information, and follow up if the original concern continues or new questions appear.

Common Questions