This summer season, you probably want to save money on your energy use while still providing comfortable living conditions for you and your family. While you might see your utility costs rising thanks to summer temperatures, sunny weather isn’t the only reason for higher statements. 

You might find your home’s HVAC system is always running hard but can’t adequately cool your home, or maybe some rooms in your house are cooler or hotter than others. Maybe you noticed a mold or mildew problem in a room other than the bathroom. You can help find and begin solving these problems with a home energy audit. 

Conway Corp’s Energy Smart program offers free residential energy audits to help customers identify how much energy their homes consume and what measures may be taken to make their homes more energy efficient. The analysis will show a homeowner problems that may, when corrected, save significant amounts of money over time. A home energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes while evaluating what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. 

How does a home energy audit work? 

During the audit process, a Conway Corp certified energy professional will perform a walk-through inspection of your home using a variety of techniques and equipment to determine its energy-efficiency level. The inspection will help you understand the efficiency level of your home’s heating and cooling systems, look at how your windows and doors seal, inspect insulation levels, show you ways to conserve electricity and help identify leaks in your home. 

An energy audit looks at several specific features of your home including your homes thermal envelope: walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows and skylights. Each of these has a specific R-value, which is a measurement of the resistance to heat flow. The higher the resistance, or R-value, the better the insulation quality. Another factor is the leakage rate or how much outside air infiltrates your home. Drafty doors and windows are the primary culprits here; however, other features of your home’s construction including age, orientation to the sun and physical condition will have an effect. A third area to look at is your home’s mechanical system — the heating/ventilation/air condition as well as the heating water. 

Annually, homes that have received a free audit from Energy Smart save $148,000 combined in utility costs. Over the lifetime of the program, these homes have saved more than $2.6 million. Some solutions are simple and inexpensive. For example, a $4 tube of caulk might save you $100 in energy costs. Other improvements might be more expensive but can be done over time, like installing efficient low-wattage lighting fixtures, adding insulation or upgrading to Energy Star rated appliances. 

In addition to the residential audit program, Energy Smart also offers zero percent interest loans to Conway Corp customers for home improvements like replacing old appliances or installing attic insulation. The loan program, funded by the City of Conway through the American Recovery Act of 2009, is available only to Conway Corp customers. Although there are no income limits, applicants must have a good credit history with Conway Corp. Loans are available between $500-$2,500 and are repayable over a 36-month period. 

An energy audit this summer will show you where to start saving money to cool your home and it will help identify heating problems that could potentially cost you during the cold winter months, too. Schedule your free energy audit today to identify areas for your home’s improvements and develop a plan of action. 

To learn more about residential energy audits, the zero percent interest loan program or the Energy Smart program, contact Conway Corp at 501.450.6000 or visit ConwayCorp.com/EnergySmart.

Beth Jimmerson

A long-time Conway resident, Beth McCullough Jimmerson is the marketing coordinator for Conway Corp. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas and a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas. She can be reached at [email protected].