Glossary · Testing & air leaks
Home energy audit
Also called: energy audit · home energy assessment · energy assessment · energy evaluation · home energy evaluation · home performance assessment
A professional check-up of how your home uses and loses energy, with tests and a written, ranked list of upgrades.
What it means
An energy advisor or auditor inspects the attic, walls, basement, windows, heating and cooling equipment and water heater, and usually runs a blower door test to measure air leaks. Many also use infrared (thermal) imaging and check fuel-burning appliances with a combustion safety test. You get a report showing where energy is wasted and which upgrades are worth doing first.
Why it matters in an audit
Many rebate programs require an audit before and after the work, and the results show which upgrades will actually pay off in your house instead of guessing.
Typical numbers
Reference values with their sources. Your auditor’s report gives the figure for your own house.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Time on site (DOE) | About an hour for a basic walk-through; about four hours for a thorough assessment with diagnostic tests | energy.gov ↗ |
| US federal audit tax credit (25C) | Was 30% of cost up to $150 for 2023–2025; not available for 2026 work | irs.gov ↗ |
In the United States
DOE calls it a home energy assessment. Auditors may hold BPI certification or be RESNET HERS raters. The 25C tax credit that covered part of an audit's cost ended with the 2025 tax year.