Steps to Take TODAY, FOR TOMORROW! - Part 1
Blower door and duct – baseline, diagnostics and problem-areas Leaks and drafts, holes, cracks and crevices – visual inspections, tests and sealants, plug and repair Interior and exterior windows closed and in good condition, working order Caulking, rubberizing (where appropriate) No leaks on the roof or visible drafts, moisture, exposure or more Double-windows, in good condition, seals intact Storm-doors secure and functional Humidifiers, condensation Back-doors and patio doors closed properly Thermostat and Furnace check and even efficiency testing Carbon monoxide testing Ductwork No gas leaks (natural gas) Repair and maintenance Window sealing (indoor and out) Alternative heating sources (energy from natural gas, propane, paraffin, oil (lamps and heaters), coal, wood-burning fireplace, electric space heaters Thermal imaging or thermo-graphy to determine weak-spots or problem-areas Sources of restorable energy, batteries, chargers, panels, turbines, generators Insulation Lower use, energy efficient appliances and lighting sources in and around your house Solar panels and lights, low energy bulbs Sources and used of energy (list and shortlist, alternatives) Window coverings (blinds, curtains etc.), door-stoppers to keep drafts out Window well covers, window sealing kits (in-door use) Here is a step-by-step plan to work and customize your own plan of action for energy and cost saving in and around YOUR OWN HOME Educate, enable and empower yourself by learning as much as you can about your house, energy, savings to be had and efficiencies. Continue your learning and on-going search for knowledge! IT IS UP TO YOU TO FIGURE OUT AND QUANTIFY how, when and why your home used, loses and wastes energy. Test, assess and audit your home, whether through a personal in-person, walk-about and around, survey, inspections or third party provider experts, niche services that can assist you in your efforts and improvements, strengths and weaknesses in your home. After ascertaining how much energy and dollars are being wasted, and where you need to apply your attention and resources where they will give you the biggest bang for your buck! If you baseline and measure, collect data, track and find evidence, you are more likely to be able to assess a monetary value, risk, damage and waste-figure to things, rather than vague ideas or speculation. This makes it much easier to actually go ahead and do something about it. You need to find the various sources of energy leakage, seepage or waste. This will help you find ways to cut your utility bills and not pay more than you should have to. Pick the best and most suitable solutions for your circumstance, problem, budget and urgency. Find out about viable, feasible and affordable options, actions and interventions that you can undertake to get the problems and issues resolved. Opt for solutions NOT just products and advertisement, look at functionality, effectiveness, price and testimonials from those who install and use, even benefit from them. This is a good barometer of value and efficiency, applicability for your situation and home, all in one easy clean-sweep. Air pressure and outer structure, integrity and air-flow throughout your house are very important. Weigh and assess both the interior and exterior of your house to determine the efficiencies and defects and act accordingly. Prioritize what has to be done and focus on current, future performance and improvement, gaps and repairs, maintenance priorities and what is most pressing FIRST. Energy efficient appliances and upgrade, new heating, ventilation and A/C might all go a long way to get your house better prepared for energy savings and efficiencies. Furnace, water heater or refrigerators might actually save you money in the long run if you replace them now. It will be worth the investment. Lots of utilities offer special programs, financing and rebates to make the easier on homeowners while encouraging the right type of behaviors and actions for responsible use, consumption and even conserving of energy and resources. Making the best use of electricity through thermostats, wireless controlled, programmable systems go a long way to effectively handle lighting and cooling or heating in your home. Dimmer and occupancy censors all contribute too, as do low-energy light-bulbs. Track the progress and performance of your home throughout. Stay on top of slippage or changes in usage, it might indicate a problem beginning or be a symptom of something more serious. Fresh airflow and ventilation for example are oftentimes overlooked. Credits, incentives and rebates for energy-efficient improvements are at your disposal too. Take full advantage of these and other such programs and initiatives in your local area. Regular and consistent check-ups and check-ins on your total home system and its separate parts. Annual maintenance, repair, cleaning are all part of pride of ownership, responsible home-owners pleasure and addressing issues sooner rather than later, will all serve your purpose and plan better. Ensure and protect that you home is at its optimal, providing ultimate comfort for you and your family, without waste or excessive costs to worry about. You could also consider a HERS (home energy rating system) report and EEM (Energy Efficiency Mortgage). This is a unique way to refinance your improvements, renovations or upgrades. The report will provide and overall score for your total home system make recommendations about what to do or consider, for cost-effective energy upgrades, and more… Estimates of the cost What annual savings you might be able to actualize Usefulness and life of upgrades (projected/estimated) It will show you the results and improve rating score if you follow the recommended upgrades suggested in the report It will also provide you with useful metrics before and after upgrades for comparison purposes The higher the score on these type reports the better and more energy efficient the home (the more likely you will be to get the financing in all likelihood) Pick the upgrades that will save you the most money in the short, medium and long term. Balance the value and reward with the cost; it should save you more than what it costs to put it into your home! Cost for these types of services and reports vary by provider, area and type of service. Ranges are between: $100 and $300. Where to find help and more information on this particular options open to homeowners: Produced cooperatively by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs 1000 Independence Avenue S.W. Washington, DC 20585 1-800-363-3732 http://www.eren.doe.gov Additional assistance provided by Alliance to Save Energy 1200 18th Street, N.W., Suite 900 Washington, DC 20036 1-202-857-0666 http://www.info@ase.org Additional information available from Federal Citizen Information Center Pueblo, CO 81009 1-888-8-PUEBLO (1-888-878-3256) http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov Distribution assistance provided by Countrywide Home Branch Locator http://branches.countrywide.com/default.asp Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. CMD Secondary Markets/Product Deployment & Pricing Support 6400 Legacy Drive, PTX 66 Plano, TX 75024 (800) 669-6020 (972) 608-1602 http://www.countrywide.com Additional information available from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Insured Single Family Housing 451 7th Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20410 Consult your local phone directory http://www.hud.gov Additional information available from U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20420 1-800-827-1000 http://www.va.gov There are lots of talk of even zero-energy homes these days, super-efficient solar homes and SMART homes with alternate technologies. Others upgrade and adapt existing conventional older and traditional homes, to address the task and step up to the plate of saving energy and money. Whichever camp you fall into, or fit onto this spectrum, there are numerous avenues and things for you to try yourself and using specialized services, to make your contribution count. Trends indicate that there are many more stepping up in the general populace to pick alternatives for old methods, costly energy bills and other inefficiencies. Here are some more trends and ways you can take advantage of some of the building and technology advances out there to deal with energy demands of living and dwelling in modern-day homes: Homes that incorporate the best energy-efficient strategies and renewable-energy systems Homes that generate what they consume Homes getting way less electricity only when they need it from resources other than the solar panels *cloudy days/nighttime Home designs geared and customized to regional climates. Electricity produced by rooftop solar panels Currently more than one third of all our energy use is actually for heating/cooling our homes and for running appliances and electric devices Energy independence does not have to be expensive and for a select few – it is increasingly becoming within easy reach of every household budget Many states offer incentives for green building and renewable energy. Solar home developments are presently not limited to the East and West coast states anymore (where electricity use, demand and need is typically higher/highest!). They are also popping up in Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Texas There is a steady decline in the once costly price-tag for energy-efficiency and solar technology. Sensors that monitor electricity consumption, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and hot-water usage Data-collection for electricity flow from appliances such as refrigerators, air handler units, water heaters, compressors and inverters. Airtight envelopes Energy Star appliances Compact fluorescent light bulbs HVAC distribution systems Low-emissive windows Passive-solar principles 70 percent of windows on the south-facing side of a house Extended overhangs above the south-facing windows to block light (hot summer) Structural insulated panels Pre-cast concrete walls to keep houses cool in the summer months and warmer in the winter months Superior insulation value and are tightly joined, to form an airtight building envelope (for maximum energy efficiency). The houses all have a relatively simple ventilation system that maintains indoor air-quality to the high standards recently mandated by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. These ventilation systems filter outside air into the houses throughout the day and condition it in response to interior carbon dioxide, humidity and temperature measurements. Innovative roofing technology and heat reflection Measures to bring more natural light into your home Geothermal heating and cooling Market-ready solar home kit Best-tested features and appliances Whole home packages and upgrades Airtight construction, panelization Mechanical ventilation Dehumidification Utility meters, smart meters and monitoring equipment Energy-intensive chores in off-peak hours or optimal, cheapest time-periods Mindful of energy efficiency Prudent practice in everyday habits, changes necessary to see results and success in savings and energy consumption lowered CHANGE YOUR OWN CONSUMER AND FAMILY BEHAVIOR when it comes to electricity, energy use, consumption and waste Our electrical appliances aren’t just connected to a socket on the wall - they're also connected to the natural world. By choosing energy-efficient homes and appliances, we can help conserve nature and reduce our energy bills. Dr. David Suzuki, Environmentalist |
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