With the higher cost of home energy, homeowners have become conscious of their home energy efficiency. As a consequence they are looking for ways to reduce their homes energy consumption and save on their utility bills. Seeking out a professional energy audit is a choice a growing number of people are making when deciding to lower their homes energy usage. Unfortunately finding a professional to do such audits is often very difficult to find.

The original energy auditing program dating back to some time in the 1970s is the Home Energy Rating System now revised and referred to as the HERS index. This system is strictly for homes that are currencly in the construction phase, not existing homes. The system works off a standard or Reference Home based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. A home is "rated" on a 0 -100 scale. 100 being the Reference Home score, the lower the score the more efficient the home.

The HERS index is an integral part of the DOE, EPA Energy Star program. New homes that score either 80 or 85 depending on climate zone are considered Energy Star homes. This is a great tool for home buyers seeking energy efficient new homes (not necessarily "green" however).

The problem is the HERS index is not designed for existing homes. With approximately over 80 million homes in this country built prior to 1980 this represents a large home demographic that can not effectively benefit from this home energy auditing efficiency system. Older homes would obviously score low on the HERS index. With this current rating system, what advantage is there for the average home owner?

Homeowners that are seeking to lower their older homes energy consumption require an energy improvement plan, not a rating. "Understanding Home Energy Efficiency" will help any home owner assess their home energy needs. Designed specifically for existing, older homes it gives the strategic planning a homeowner needs to begin sensibly improving their older homes energy efficiency.

The report is broken down into comprehensive sections that prioritize the most cost effective improvements based on pay off times for each improvement through energy savings realized by implementing each particular energy upgrade.

Conducting a do-it-yourself energy audit, will allow home owners the option of making the necessary energy efficient home improvements their home really needs. More and more people are taking the initiative to make their homes more energy efficient by taking small, individual steps at home.

You don't have to hire an expensive Home Energy Inspector to tell you what you can find yourself from a do-it-yourself home energy audit.

There are many resources online that can help home owners understand home energy efficiency. Amongst them, www.Do-It-Yourself-Projects.info has a great selection of affordable DIY Reports that help you decide which aspects of Home Energy Improvements can benefit your home.

In the coming months, we will see drastic changes in the government to encourage and regulate home energy efficiency. Make sure your home is up to snuff, providing you and your family an energy efficient home this winter.