Home Energy-Efficiency Upgrades for Beginners

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/29149/home-energy-efficiency-upgrades-for-beginners

Advice for homeowners: Inspect your house for these common energy problems to get a better idea on where your money is best spent
Owners of older homes often contact Green Building Advisor and ask, "What can I do to make my home more energy efficient?" My standard answer goes something like this: "The first step is to hire a certified rater to perform an energy audit of your home. The audit report will include a tailor-made list of retrofit measures to address your home's specific problems."

The advice is good, but it doesn't do much to educate the questioner. Perhaps you are an intrepid homeowner who is willing to poke around your home's nooks and crannies. Is there anything you can learn about your house without a blower door and an infrared camera?

Yes, of course there is. This article will explain the steps that homeowners can take to assess the condition of their house from an energy perspective.