Personal Goals:                  Check.  

Site Plan & Photos:             Check.  

Building Envelope:              Check.  

Where to Weatherize:         Let's find out.  

If you could move all of the little gaps, cracks and holes in the exterior walls and attic of your house all together you might end up with a hole that you could poke your head through. Putting your head there literally is not recommended, but putting your head there figuratively will save you energy and hundreds of dollars a year. The fourth step in gathering the information needed to develop a comprehensive Home Energy Audit is to examine those cracks, gaps and holes in your house that need to be plugged or weatherized.

Windows: Unfortunately, light is not the only thing that passed through windows, many leak air like a sieve. They can leak where the trim abuts the siding, through the sill, where two sashes meet, between the frame and the sash, and even at the edges of the glass. Take close-up photos of each type of window and window condition. Note the condition of existing weather stripping and any obvious locations where air might be likely to enter the house.  

Doors: Just like windows, doors have multiple locations where air can fine its way in to your house. Take photographs of all doors and screen doors and note the condition of weather stripping that might need to be replaced.  

Change in Materials: Every time that there is a joint between two different types of materials or systems, there is a possibility that air can enter into your walls. Take close-up photographs of the various conditions around the outside of your house, including horizontal and vertical conditions.    

Switches and Outlets: This is an often overlooked location that air can get into your house. These boxes puncture the vapor barrier and are not usually sealed properly. Simply count the number of outlets and switches there are on the exterior walls of your house. Record this information with your building envelope information.   

Pipes, Vents, Fixtures and Wires: When exterior building skin materials are pierced they don't often fit tightly around the object that goes through them. Here is another opportunity for air to seep into your house. Take close-up photos of every location where pipes, vents, light fixtures, receptacles and wires come out of your walls.  

Attic Ceilings: Fiberglass batts and blown cellulose make great insulators, but they are terrible air and vapor barriers. Your attic could have R-50 insulation, but if your ceilings are not properly sealed the conditioned air in your house can pass right through it. Record the number of ceiling mounted, recessed light fixtures and ceiling fans there are in the ceiling under your attic. Photograph all attic access panels and the attic side of light fixtures, fans and electrical boxes.

Fireplaces: Are there any working fireplaces in your house? Take a photograph of the dampers, if there are any. 

You have set your personal goals to save energy and water, surveyed your property, and the building envelope in detail. You are well on your way to collecting the information that you will need to develop a comprehensive Home Energy Audit. The next article in this series will focus on the mechanical systems in your house.