When Naomi Endicott heard that natural gas prices could rise as much as 40 percent this winter, it was time for an energy audit. Endicott, who lives in a small, two-bedroom townhouse in Apple Valley, remembered a $200 heating bill for one month last winter and couldn't stand the thought of it getting worse. "And that was with plastic on my windows, too," she said.
Many natural gas customers schedule an energy audit midwinter after getting a $200 or $300 bill, but they would be smart to schedule audits now, said Crystal Manik, program manager at Xcel Energy. "September is a great time to have an audit done because it gives consumers a chance to act on the recommendations and do outside maintenance before winter," she said. Customers scheduling audits in the fall generally have a shorter waiting time, although requests are up already this month, Manik said. "Customers are motivated to take action."
Standard $25 to $35 audits check windows, doors, insulation, and heating and cooling equipment, but the $100 home performance audit (Xcel calls it an infrared audit) includes the more valuable blower door and infrared test. An infrared camera pinpoints air leaks and moisture problems, so homeowners know exactly where to apply caulk or insulation. Endicott's audit found a major source of heat loss in the attic. When the attic door was moved after a ceiling fan was installed, no insulation had been placed around the new door. The audit also found several leaks around the windows. Endicott used weatherstripping, foam and plastic that were given to her during the audit to cut heat loss.
CenterPoint Energy has been offering the audits since the early 1990s. The number of audits requested waxes and wanes depending on the weather and the economy, said CenterPoint spokeswoman Becca Virden, but if natural gas prices rise and temperatures fall, customers might have to wait until after the heating season to get their audits. Current waiting times are four to six weeks.
How much can people save by sealing the gaps in their houses? Up to 20 percent, said Manik. The little gaps around doors and windows add up to the equivalent of leaving a window open 6 inches all winter, according to CenterPoint. The average Minnesotan pays about $1,000 during the heating season. If heating costs go up a conservative 30 percent, the homeowner who closes the air gaps before November will see only a negligible increase in heating costs during the upcoming season.
Endicott doesn't know how much her efforts will pay off yet, but knowing that she's saving energy, she calls it "money well spent."
John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com.
