If you have the goal of making your home more energy efficient, you will first need to conduct a home energy audit to assess how much your household consumes and evaluate what changes can be made to reduce that amount. After performing an assessment, a home inspector can show you what your household can do to reduce your energy costs. 

On its blog, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently featured the story of Deborah Wetzel, a homeowner who lives near the Long Island Sound. While she appreciates her oceanfront views, winds from the Sound make her home cold for eight months out of the year. Tired of the high cost of keeping her house warm, she had a home energy assessment performed. 

The auditor determined that making minor changes to her existing heating and insulation systems would yield major benefits. Wetzel sealed air leaks around her washer, dryer and windows in addition to adding more insulation to the attic. 

Because she was making energy-efficient upgrades to her house, the state of New York offered a partial rebate to Wetzel to offset her costs. 

"Getting the partial rebate helped me decide to make the energy efficiency upgrades," Wetzel told the DOE. "But I also plan on keeping my home for a long time, so it was worth the investment to make my home more comfortable and draft free."

Wetzel's slight improvements to her home, which only cost her $1,300, now save her more than $30 a month. They'll pay for themselves in less than four years. 

If you're interested in improving your home's energy efficiency, be sure to contact a home inspection company to schedule an energy assessment.