Energy is only used in a home in response to someone turning something on. This might be the furnace, refrigerator, computer, etc.  Information such as the settings on the thermostat and when people are home are important to determining how energy is used in a home. An interview with the residents of the house is necessary to determine this information.

In addition to information on how energy is used in the home, details about the comfort level in different rooms in the house is also gathered during the interview. It is important for the auditor to know that a certain room may be hard to heat or cool. Issues such as musky odors, damp closets, condensating windows, and other comfort problems will tell an auditor a lot about how the house is performing.

Last, but potentially most important, the residents should tell the auditor of any health concerns experienced by someone in the home. This is especially true of any respiratory ailments such as asthma or allergies.