It is generally accepted that in order to try to identify solutions for any problems it is mandatory to conduct a correct and efficient assessment of the real situation. In this case, in order to correctly identify the issues that might be solved or corrected, you have to know that there are two options available. First of all, you have to know that you can conduct the house auditing by yourself answering a set of questions or secondly, you can turn to a specialist, who can come and carry out the assessment for you.

In case you elect the first option, here are some of the important things that you need to check on your list and which are going to be able to assist you in determining the existence of any problems:

* Verify the level of insulation in your exterior and basement walls, ceilings, crawl spaces, attic and floors. If you are not precisely sure how to do it correctly, contact your local contractor, in order to get professional advice. * Make sure that there are no holes or cracks in your ceilings, windows, walls, doors, electrical outlets etc., because they can leak air into and out of your home, which makes your house less energy efficient than you actually would want it to be. * It is also highly advisable to make sure that there are no open fireplace dampers. * Furthermore, make sure that both your appliances and your cooling and heating systems are working properly and are properly maintained. * Keep in mind that a lot of the energy that we consume is actually wasted on the lighting needs of the household members. As a consequence, it is strongly recommended to identify the areas in the house with the most increased energy consumption, such as the living room or the kitchen and to replace the traditional light bulbs with energy efficient ones, as for example with compact fluorescent lamps.
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Detailed information about energy saving, including tips on household savings and environmental issues, are available at http://www.energyshack.com/