These are the dog days of summer

These are the dog days of summer, and our high electric bills are Exhibit A.

In Greek history, the term “dog days” referred to the heliacal rising of the binary star Sirius in the night sky. Sirius is known as the dog star because it is the dominant star in Canis Major, which, like a loyal dog, follows Orion through the night sky. The Greeks associated the dog days with “periods of intense heat, drought, fever, lethargy, mad dogs and bad luck,” according to Wikipedia.

I don’t know about mad dogs and bad luck, but I associate the dog days with hellishly high electric bills. But there’s hope: An independent energy audit will nail down the causes of your high bills and hot homes. (It just so happens that my company, HEAT -- Home Energy Auditing & Thermography -- is an independent energy auditing firm.

HEAT’s energy audit covers everything from insulation depth and coverage to improper duct design, crushed ducts, leakage and disconnects. We check room pressure problems, airflow issues, house leakage (“envelope leakage”) using a calibrated blower door, window inspection, external and internal heat gain, HVAC static pressure and sizing … the list goes on.

Just as important, I go over the homeowner’s habits and offer tips and hacks to maximize savings. When I’m done with your audit, we’ll know exactly what’s wrong, and I work with approved contractors to fix the problems. When they’re done with the work, I come back and re-test the house to make sure you got what you paid for.

APS customers pay $99 for a thorough home energy audit. SRP customers pay $199.** Both companies offer rebates for things like insulation and duct-sealing and repair.

I’ve been an energy auditor since 2009, and I believe there’s no better return on investment than an energy audit to help you save money and increase comfort.

** The audit price for new homes (still under warranty) are not covered by the discounted audit and would be based on square footage.