Can you tell me what a good home energy auditor should do and how I can find one?

Sure thing. A qualified auditor will evaluate the whole house and will identify the causes of and solutions for high energy bills, drafty rooms, moisture problems, and more. The auditor will look at the heating system, lighting, appliances, windows, and insulation and will understand how these elements interact with each other to affect your energy use, comfort, health, and safety. Specifically, the auditor will:

• use a special fan, called a blower door, which fits in an exterior doorway and changes the air pressure in the house so that the tightness of the home is assessed and air leaks can be found and sealed;

• assess the presence and amount of carbon monoxide and gas leaks; and

• help you prioritize recommended, cost-effective energy-saving home improvements.

I suggest contacting a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractor. These independent contractors are certified by the Building Performance Institute to perform energy audits, diagnose building problems such as moisture, mold, and ice dams, and to make recommended home improvements. Efficiency Vermont offers financial incentives to homeowners for energy-saving improvements completed by these contractors. You can find a list of contractors near you at www.efficiencyvermont.com/homeperformance.

- Li Ling for The Home Team

I’ve seen conflicting information about energy-efficient windows being worth the price. Do they do a good job or not?

Energy-efficient windows do a great job of reducing drafts and increasing comfort. But the payback period, from energy savings, on the cost of new windows is long. So it's generally not advisable to replace old windows for energy-saving purposes alone. The most cost-effective time to buy high-performance windows is when you're building a new space, putting on an addition, or replacing nonfunctional windows. If you've got windows that work, you're better off, cost-wise, improving them than replacing them.

And that's pretty easily done. Repair any cracked panes and glazing, run a bead of caulk around window frames, and use sidemount sash locks to hold windows firmly in place. Block drafts through sash-weight pulley openings by using pulley seals. Use inexpensive window weatherization kits, available at hardware stores. If you have storm windows, use them in the winter. If not, have them made - they're far less costly than new windows.

- Kathleen for The Home Team