Where Your Energy Goes

Ozarks Electric home energy audits help members spot hidden waste

By Amy Merck, Editor

Zack Shadrick gets an up close look at a home's duct work during an energy audit. (Photo by Alex Boyd.)

Mark Reed checks a home's air filter. (Photo by Alex Boyd.)

When Ozarks Electric Cooperative staff arrive for a home energy audit, they never know exactly what they’ll find.

Sometimes the problem is obvious, like a brand-new home built without insulation (yes, that happened). Other times, the home itself is fine, but everyday habits are quietly driving the electric bill higher.

That’s why the co-op offers free home energy audits to members to help them understand how their houses use — and sometimes lose — energy.

“We try to help people understand where their energy is going,” said Mark Reed, Ozarks energy services specialist. “A lot of the time it’s not the house. It’s habits.”

During an audit, Reed and fellow energy specialist Zack Shadrick inspect insulation, ductwork, lighting, heating and cooling systems, and areas where air may be leaking. They often check attics and crawl spaces and may take photos to show homeowners exactly what’s happening behind the scenes.

Some of the biggest changes are simple:

• Changing air filters. “When the filter is dirty, it's working harder, like trying to breathe through a heavy mask,” Shadrick said.

• Replacing can lights. These recessed lights can leave gaps between the attic and living space. “It can be like a six-inch hole straight into the attic,” according to Shadrick.

• Putting circulating pumps on a timer. Circulating pumps, which keep hot water moving through your plumbing so it's ready at the tap, are best on a timer so they're not running and using energy 24/7.

“I thought we were doing well, but I discovered there’s much more we can do to conserve energy at home,” one member wrote after an audit. “The benefits were astounding.”

For some, the biggest benefit isn’t the bill, but comfort.

“Sometimes the biggest win is that the house finally feels comfortable,” Reed said.

For more extensive upgrades, Ozarks Electric connects members to the Comprehensive Home Energy Saving Solutions (CHESS) program, a statewide efficiency program that uses approved contractors to complete work such as duct sealing, repairs and additional insulation. While contractors perform that work, Ozarks Electric remains a resource for members throughout the process.

Members can request a home energy audit at 800-521-6144 or ozarksecc.com/energy-solutions.