"Do It Yourself" Energy Audit

I found this really interesting website. It is a 'Do It Yourself' Energy Audit at The Home Energy Saver website. The site is sponsored by the US Department of Energy.

Based on the information you provide about your home, this calculates your potential energy savings by upgrading your home. This includes everything from insulation to appliances.

Unfortunately, the site can not calculate my particular zip code. So to check it out, I used a relatives address and it was really informative. You have to gather some information first, such as the price you're paying per kWh and fuel, but most information required is stuff home owners already know about their house. (square footage, windows, etc.) The more information you provide, the better feedback you will receive.

If you've thought about having an energy audit performed on your home, but cost is an issue, this is a start. I would still recommend having an official audit performed.