Audits & Weatherization

Weatherization improvements protect your home from the outside elements to make it more efficient, comfortable, and healthy. An energy audit will analyze your home’s efficiency and help you to identify improvements that can be cost-effective.

Audits

Energy audits, also known as energy assessments, measure the energy efficiency of your home. An assessment by a professional auditor will determine the cost-effective investments you can make to save energy and money while increasing the comfort of your home. Auditors can also help you identify behavioral tips around energy consumption that can lower your bills and reduce your household’s carbon footprint.

Home energy audits vary. Common inspections and tests include:

• Insulation inspection
• Blower door test
• Thermal image testing
• Inspection of the home’s exterior
• Examination of the condition of your major appliances

Some energy audits also include some simple and immediate upgrades to save energy. For example, Xcel and CenterPoint customers can schedule audits that may include the installation of high-efficiency LEDs, programmable thermostats, weather stripping, high-efficiency shower heads, and water heater insulation.

Income-qualified homeowners and renters may be eligible for a free energy audit. Check with your local Weatherization Assistance Program provider and your electric and/or gas utility about what options are available to you.

Many utilities also provide discounts for home energy audits for customers at all income levels. Some local governments also work with audit providers to provide free or discounted audits. Additionally, federal tax credits are available for 30% of the cost of a home energy audit (up to $150). Work with your tax professional to determine eligibility. 

Weatherization

Weatherization improvements protect your home from the outside elements to make it more efficient, comfortable, and healthy. Weatherization measures can include:

• Insulation
• Air Sealing
• Ventilation
• Moisture control
• Upgrading windows and doors 

A home energy audit will identify which improvements are recommended. Some improvements, such as insulation and air sealing, often pay for themselves within a few years. Other projects, such as window replacement, can be very costly and may not pay for themselves in energy savings. We encourage consumers to look into potential incentives to reduce the costs of weatherization improvements.

Discounts are available for home weatherization. 

• The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free upgrades to income-eligible homeowners and renters, including insulation; air sealing; and furnace, boiler, and water heater repair or replacement.
• Gas and electric utilities provide discounts on weatherization and other conservation measures. Income-qualified households may be eligible for no-cost upgrades. 
• Various weatherization improvements qualify for federal tax credits. Additionally, federal and state rebate programs are expected to be rolled out in 2025. Some cities also provide discounts to their residents. 

A variety of building professionals provide weatherization services. Utilities that offer rebates for these measures may have a list of preferred contractors that you must select from in order to receive rebates. CUB does not provide contractor recommendations, but we suggest that you seek multiple bids, consider reviews, and ask trusted sources for referrals.