What Happens During a Home Energy Audit?
A Step-by-Step Guide for Homeowners
If you’re considering home energy upgrades, an energy audit is often the first step. But many homeowners aren’t sure what actually happens during the process, or what information they might receive afterward.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what to expect during a home energy audit:
Step 1: Initial Home Assessment
The audit begins with a detailed assessment of your home and its current energy performance. An energy advisor will inspect key areas such as the attic, basement (or crawlspace), exterior walls, windows and doors, as well as your heating and ventilation systems.
As part of the assessment, they will evaluate your home’s current insulation levels to the best of their ability and estimate the insulation values (R-values) in areas like the attic, basement, and walls. This evaluation will help you better understand how your home is currently performing and whether additional insulation or air sealing may be recommended.
Step 2: Blower Door Test
One of the most important parts of the audit is the blower door test.
A calibrated fan is temporarily installed in an exterior doorway to measure how much air is leaking from your home. This test helps identify drafts and areas of uncontrolled air leakage that may be contributing to heat loss and higher energy bills.
Step 3: EnerGuide Evaluation
Using the information collected during the assessment, the energy advisor generates an EnerGuide rating for your home.
This rating estimates how much energy your home uses annually and helps identify which upgrades could have the biggest impact on efficiency, comfort, and long-term savings.
Step 4: Receive Your EnerGuide Report
After the audit, you’ll receive a detailed report outlining:
- Current insulation values
- Air leakage rate
- Heating system efficiency
- Recommended upgrades
- Estimated energy savings
For many homeowners, this is where things can start to feel overwhelming – which upgrades should come first? Which contractors should you call? What rebates apply to your situation?
Step 5: Send Your Report to the Shift Program
Once you receive your EnerGuide report, you can send it to the Shift Program for support navigating the next steps.
Our team can:
- Review your report with you
- Help prioritize upgrades
- Explain available rebates and financing options
- Connect you with contractor contacts
- Answer technical questions throughout the renovation process
The goal is to help homeowners move forward with confidence and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the recommendations in the report. To send it to our team email [email protected]. We will get back to you as soon as we can.
Next Steps
A home energy audit is more than just a requirement for rebates; it’s a roadmap for improving your home’s comfort, efficiency, and long-term energy performance.
And you don’t have to navigate the process alone.
Book a call through our website with one of our Home Energy Navigators to get personalized guidance and plan your next steps with confidence.
Content provided for informational purposes only. Please refer to our Program Terms & Conditions for full details.