---
title: "Home Energy Audit Guide Renovation | AVANORTH"
canonical_url: "https://avanorth.ca/blog/home-energy-audit-guide-before-renovation"
last_updated: "2026-03-10T07:34:12.799Z"
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description: "Home energy audit guide: EnerGuide evaluation, blower door test, thermal imaging, upgrade priority order, costs, savings, and government incentives."
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"og:title": "Home Energy Audit Guide Renovation"
"twitter:description": "Home energy audit guide: EnerGuide evaluation, blower door test, thermal imaging, upgrade priority order, costs, savings, and government incentives."
"twitter:title": "Home Energy Audit Guide Renovation"
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AVANORTH Home
**Residential Trends**·May 23, 2026· 4 min read
# **Home Energy Audit Guide Before Renovation**
A home energy audit identifies where your home is losing energy and which upgrades will deliver the best return. Getting an audit before renovation ensures you invest in the right improvements in the right order.
**AVANORTH Team**
AVANORTH Construction
Most homeowners who want to improve their home's energy efficiency do not know where to start. They may replace windows because they "feel drafty" when in reality the attic insulation is the biggest source of heat loss. They may upgrade the furnace when the real problem is air leakage through the building envelope. A professional home energy audit provides data-driven recommendations, identifying the biggest energy losses and recommending upgrades in the order that will deliver the best return on investment. In Canada, the EnerGuide evaluation is the standard home energy audit.
---
## What Happens During an Energy Audit
### EnerGuide Evaluation Process
1. **Pre-audit interview:** The energy advisor reviews your energy bills and discusses comfort issues. This gives context for the assessment.
2. **Visual inspection:** The advisor inspects the exterior, attic, basement, mechanical systems, windows, and doors. They look for insulation levels, air sealing, moisture issues, and equipment age/condition.
3. **Blower door test:** A large fan mounted in an exterior door depressurizes the house to 50 Pascals. This standardized test measures the total air leakage rate (ACH50: air changes per hour at 50 Pa). While the house is depressurized, the advisor uses the pressure difference to locate specific air leaks around windows, electrical outlets, attic hatches, plumbing penetrations, and the rim joist area.
4. **Infrared (thermal) imaging:** An infrared camera reveals temperature differences on walls, ceilings, and floors. Cold spots indicate missing insulation or air infiltration paths. This is done during the blower door test for maximum effectiveness.
5. **Energy modelling:** The advisor enters all the data into the HOT2000 energy modelling software. The model calculates the home's current energy rating (EnerGuide score, 0-100 GJ/year) and simulates the effect of various upgrades.
6. **Report:** A comprehensive report lists recommended upgrades, estimated energy savings, estimated costs, and the projected new EnerGuide score after upgrades.
---
## Typical Findings
| Issue | How Common | Typical Energy Impact |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Insufficient attic insulation | Very common (80%+ of pre-2000 homes) | 15-25% of total heat loss |
| Basement/crawlspace uninsulated | Very common | 15-25% of total heat loss |
| Air leakage (building envelope) | Universal (all houses leak to some degree) | 25-40% of total heat loss |
| Old windows (single or double pane, non-low-E) | Common in pre-1990 homes | 10-15% of total heat loss |
| Aging furnace (less than 80% efficient) | Common (15+ year old furnaces) | 20-30% excess fuel consumption |
| No HRV/ERV | Common in pre-2006 homes | Ventilation heat loss unrecovered |
---
## Upgrade Priority Order
Energy upgrades should generally be done in this order for maximum cost-effectiveness:
1. **Air sealing:** The single best return on investment. Seal the attic air barrier (penetrations, hatches, dropped ceilings), rim joist, plumbing/electrical penetrations, and foundation cracks. Cost: $500-2,000. Savings: 10-20%.
2. **Attic insulation:** Top up attic insulation to R-60 (current code minimum for Ontario). If the existing insulation is R-20 or less, this is a dramatic improvement. Cost: $1,500-3,500 (blown-in). Savings: 10-15%.
3. **Basement insulation:** Insulate basement walls to R-20 minimum with rigid foam or spray foam. Cost: $3,000-8,000. Savings: 10-15%.
4. **Mechanical upgrade:** Replace the furnace with a high-efficiency model (96%+ AFUE) or an air-source heat pump. Install an HRV if none exists. Cost: $5,000-15,000. Savings: 15-35%.
5. **Windows:** Replace last (unless severely deteriorated). Windows are expensive relative to the energy savings. Cost: $15,000-30,000 for a whole house. Savings: 5-10%.
> **Common Mistake:** Many homeowners replace windows first because they are visible and feel drafty. However, the draft they feel is often caused by air leakage around the window (fixable with air sealing) or cold air falling off the glass (improved by curtains or a higher-performance window). The $20,000 spent on new windows would deliver 3-4 times more energy savings if spent on air sealing, insulation, and a mechanical upgrade.
---
## Government Incentives
### Canada Greener Homes Grant
- Requires a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation (audit)
- Grants of $125-5,000 per eligible upgrade (insulation, windows, heat pump, etc.)
- Maximum total grant: $5,000
- Post-retrofit evaluation required to confirm upgrades and receive grant
### Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus
- Up to $5,000 in rebates for gas-heated homes
- Insulation, air sealing, and window upgrades eligible
> **AVANORTH Renovation:** When clients approach us for renovation, we recommend starting with an EnerGuide audit. The audit tells us exactly where the house is losing energy and what improvements will deliver the best results. We then design the renovation to address the highest-priority items. This approach eliminates guesswork and ensures that the renovation budget is spent where it will make the biggest difference. We coordinate with energy advisors and help clients access all available grants and rebates.
#energy-audit #renovation #energy-efficiency
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