Which uses more energy, houses or cars?
When people think pollution, and resource consumption, they usually think of cars first. As it turns out, total energy consumption in the US is about 30% more for homes than it is for cars. And the average home’s energy demands cause more than twice as much carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) to be emitted than the average car.
Inefficient homes are full of hidden costs and can be polluting. But they don’t have to be this way. There are a large variety of products available that can drastically increase your home’s efficiency. Some of these products are appliances like your refrigerator, washer and dryer, which you can research and shop for yourself (look for the Energy Star rating). For other products, like hvac systems, pool pumps, windows, etc, customization is essential. Choosing the right product and installing it properly can require a certain amount of expertise. For example, your furnace or AC should be sized according to your home’s measured heating/cooling needs and alongside an engineered duct system.
Remember- When you buy a product that consumes energy, it effectively has two price tags- the purchase price, and the cost of operating the product over its lifetime.
Many contractors pay little attention to energy efficiency. By cutting a few corners, they often create very inefficient homes and heating/cooling systems, which means indirect pollution and big energy bills. The average home has a lot of room for improvement. And guess what- a small difference in the initial price can return its cost many times over. Not to mention- energy efficient homes are safer, more comfortable, and often better protected from elemental wear and tear (sunlight, water damage).
And if you’re still not convinced… Besides the lowered energy bill, you can also qualify for certain government programs, which can provide financial incentives/rewards for energy efficient homes or for receiving energy efficiency retrofits.
DOE Energy Score – Find out your home’s effective “MPG”
The DOE (U.S. Dept of Energy) has released software that can provide an energy efficiency rating for your home. It requires that a qualified technician performs a thorough inspection of your home, measuring about 40 characteristics of the building “envelope” and then plugging the data into the “Home Energy Rating Tool” software, which takes into account local climate, and many other factors, and gives your home a rating on a scale from 1 to 10.
Additionally, the software can show you a modified score, showing how efficient the home would be if all the recommended efficiency improvements were made, and how much money you could save over 10 years. This is a useful motivating tool.
This rating system should help increase the marketability of efficient homes. If you’re on the fence about upgrading your home because you’re not sure how long you will live there and reap the benefits, you should know that “green” or energy efficient homes are becoming increasingly recognized as having significantly more value, partly due to increased awareness, and partly due to rating systems like this one.
Other programs
The DOE’s tool is useful for quickly comparing the overall efficiency of homes. But there are many other government programs that can provide direct financial benefits as well.
EUC (Energy Upgrade California) can provide up to $4,500 in rebates for efficiency upgrades. It focuses on a whole-house approach.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an in-depth rating system for all buildings. It provides a score that is broken up into 4 tiers of certification, which have various benefits, and are highly esteemed in the industry.
HERS (Home Energy Rating Systems) is another comprehensive rating system that focuses on residences, specifically their hvac systems and insulation.
EEMs (Energy Efficient Mortgages) can help a buyer get a significantly better mortgage on efficient homes.
The list goes on: Eco Performance Builders can tell you about PG&E incentives, Power Saver Home Loans, Federal Tax Credits, and various incentives for solar power.
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”640px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]For more information about deep energy retrofits, call (925) 363-4498 to speak to a technician or schedule an Energy Audit. You can also e-mail: info@epbuilders.com[/dropshadowbox]
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