(By Stu Silverman)
Increasing energy bills are a fact of life. Gas, electricity, and fuel oil costs have been increasing each year, and predictions for the future indicate similar trends. of increasing prices year over year.
Look for the ENERGY STAR
The good news is that there are many things that can be done in and around your home to reduce your energy consumption, and hence reduce energy costs. One of the easiest ways to save on energy is to purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products and appliances.
The ENERGY STAR program is a collaboration between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DoE), whose mandate is to work with manufacturers to create products and best practices which reduce energy consumption and protect the environment.
Save more than $600
With ENERGY STAR products and appliances, you can save more than 35 percent on your home's energy consumption, while maintaining all the features and benefits you're accustomed to. The average U.S. family spends $1,900 per year on their home energy consumption, which translates into a savings of more than $600 per year.
Look for ENERGY STAR ratings on the following items:
- Appliances
- Heating and Cooling Systems
- Home Envelope Sealing Products
- Home Electronics
- Office Equipment
- Lighting
More energy-saving solutions
Energy conservation goes well beyond purchasing energy efficient appliances and household items. Substantial amounts of energy can be saved each day by fixing or servicing inefficient and poorly maintained equipment. For example, clogged air filters and loose fan belts require extra energy to be consumed unnecessarily.
Improve ventilation and air sealing
Energy can be saved by improving attic ventilation, sealing windows and doors, and increasing insulation in floors, walls and attics. Sealing air ducts prevents heated (or cooled) air from escaping, which reduces heating (or air conditioning) costs.
Reduce consumption
Washing only full loads of laundry, turning air conditioning systems off when away from home, and reducing the thermostat on your water heater and limiting unnecessary water use can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in savings.
A home energy audit identifies problem areas
The best way to identify the most effective ways to save energy - and reduce your monthly energy bills - is with a home energy assessment. You will find out where the problem areas are in your home, and get recommendations for how to fix them.
Home Energy Problems & Solutions:
- Reduce High Energy Bills Energy Efficiency, Home Improvement Tools
- Drafty Rooms Air sealing, Heating and Cooling Contractor
- Peeling Paint Control moisture, Building Science Specialist
- Mold, Mildew or Musty Odors Reducing Indoor Humidity
- Dust Sealing air leaks, Change Filters
- Hot or Cold Rooms Room over a garage, ENERGY STAR ceiling fans
- Damp Basement Stop water leaks, Ventilation Fans
- Moisture on Windows Control Moisture, ENERGY STAR Labeled Windows
- Dry Indoor Air in Winter Home Sealing, Diagnostic Equipment
- Cold Floors in Winter Basement floor, Floor over a crawlspace
- Ice Dams Roofing Contractor, Diagnostic Equipment
We were unaware of what was involved in an energy audit and your audior took the time to explain everything. We were impressed with the report which told us the areas in which we need to take action on. He never pressured us to use any particular contractors, he just suggested that we go to the Building Energy Pros web site to select contractors of our own choice. He did an excellent job and we HIGHLY recommend the Building Energy Pros. We already have recommended them to several of our neighbors. Again, EXCELLENT JOB!
Cynthia Simpson
The Building Energy Pros auditor was very knowledgeable. I was VERY HAPPY with him. He promptly E-mailed my energy audit report to me and I will consider all of his recommendations.
Tom McGee
We found out that our house really has no energy problems. We are happy to know that we
Leslie Stewart
I was very satisfied with your energy auditor. He was very qualified and spent a great deal of time with me. The energy audit was very informative.
P.B.
The energy auditor was very good and helpful. He keeps in touch with me to answer any of my questions.
D.G.
I was very satisfied with my energy audit. The auditor gave me some tips on attic insulation that were very helpful.
R.G.
I was very satisfied with my energy audit. Thank you!
R.S.
Very good service! I am going to replace the windows as the auditor had suggested.
D.W.
I was very happy with the energy audit. THANKS!
A. M.
My energy audit was very helpful. Joe Dempsey, your auditor, identified some structural problems that I was not aware of and explained to me why I need more insulation.
J. F.
The auditor was EXCELLENT! He spent ALOT of time with me. I am going to take 3 to 4 of his suggestions and correct these small items to save on my energy bills.
M. B.
The auditor did a GREAT JOB! He knew a lot about older homes, which we have. The report was very comprehensive. Thank you!
Vicki Nez/at
Your energy auditor was very nice and helpful. He answered all of our questions. We will recommend Building Energy Pros to our friends and neighbors.
Katherine McCaffrey
The auditor did a TERRIFIC JOB! The report was FANTASTIC! I will make all the repairs he suggested. I will definitely recommend him to everyone I know that could benefit from a home energy audit.
Steve Sleigh, Chevy Chase
The energy auditor was very professional and I am very satisfied with both the energy audit and the report I received. I will be referring the Building Energy Pros.
Tim Clary
I was very satisfied with the auditor. He was great and gave me some very valuable information. I will refer him to people I know who may need a home energy audit.
Willie Gantt
Your home energy audit proved to be very informative and helpful. I was not aware of the updraft created inside our walls because of the balloon framing construction. You said that that can cause heat to be pulled out of the house with the draft going up inside the walls and should be re-mediated. You also said that the attic insulation was insufficient and that fiberglass batts can leave spaces for around the edges causing heat loss and that it should have blown in insulation on top of what was there to seal the whole attic and increase the r factor. After going over your findings and telling me how you would fix the problems you told me how I could do it myself with stuff from the Home Center and for a quarter of the cost. Well, I did. I went into the basement and filled the bottom of the wall joist with unfaced insulation where they set on the sill plate. I then cut one inch foam board the size for each space and set it in and the sealed the edges of that with expanding foam as well as the sill plate to the foundation. I also sealed the sill plate to the foundation where the joist ran along it, as well as the top of those joist where it made contact with the subflooring. Next I went to the home center and rented their blown insulation machine and got ten bales of the insulation. I filled the attic on top of the batt insulation with about six inches giving another r-19 factor on top of the r-19 that was there. You said that the blown in would also help seal the heat loss around the edges of the batt. The work in the basement cost $144.00 and the work in the attic cost $328.00. After the 30% federal energy tax credit it will end up costing me about $330.00, which you said I should recover in savings in the first year. Thank You for all your advice and expertise. You made me aware of things I should consider and did.
Tommy Thompson