Every home is as different as the people who live there. The type of windows it has, how much sunlight it gets, the type and age of its appliances, air circulation — all of these play a part in how much energy your home uses.
Using energy efficiently can be as simple as making some minor changes. In some buildings, caulking around the windows makes a big impact. In others, simply installing a ceiling fan can make a significant difference on home heating and cooling costs.
Even if you've weatherproofed to the best of your ability and you do everything you can to conserve, an energy expert can take a quick tour of your home and spot the places you may be wasting energy.
Peoples Gas recommends you consider getting insight from an expert to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. Professional energy auditors will be able to show you where you can conserve more energy and save money, including when to invest in more energy-efficient appliances.
The Illinois Association of Energy Raters maintains an up-to-date listing of energy auditors. All of its members are certified with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
While these "Home Energy Raters" may charge for their services — usually no more than a few hundred dollars — it's common for the costs of your investment to quickly be covered by the savings resulting from their recommendations.