1) Energy Audit—Have an Energy Audit on your existing home or our HERS rater certify your new home with ENERGY STAR, LEED for Homes, or NAHB Green. This way you can be sure that the systems in your home are working together and properly.
- Don’t guess. Determine exactly how leaky your home and HVAC system is. Our HERS rater, or energy rater, will help you identify leaks and make recommendations for highest rate of return for your repairs.
- Envelope leakage is tested and evaluated.
- HVAC system and ductwork is inspected, tested and evaluated.
- Insulation levels are inspected and assessed.
- Windows are evaluated.
- Moisture problems are assessed.
- Utility bills analyzed.
2) Air Sealing—An energy rater or HERS rater can help you pinpoint areas where conditioned air is leaking out of your home.
- Through use of a blower door and a thermal camera, an energy rater can very quickly help you identify areas that need air sealing measures.
- Attic to house connection should be assessed and air sealed.
- Crawl space to house connection should be assessed and air sealed.
- Can Light Gaskets. Install air tight trim gaskets in all of your can lights; thus reducing the amount of conditioned air leaking past your can lights. These are available at most hardware stores.
- Electrical outlet covers with air tight gaskets are also available at hardware stores.
- Weather strip door and attic accesses.
3) Insulation—An energy rater can also help you assess your homes insulation levels and make recommendations. Through use of an infrared camera, an energy rater can help you determine where your homes insulation weak points are.
- Attics should be blown to at least R-30.
- Walls and knee walls should be assessed on their thermal performance.
- Crawl spaces on older homes often have no insulation in the floor system and should be assessed.
4) HVAC
- Replace old inefficient systems with high efficiency equipment
- Test and air seal ductwork with mastic or mastic based tape. Duct tape is not meant to seal ducts.
- PTSTAT-Install a programmable thermostat. Years of research and studies have proven that programmable thermostats can save significant amounts of money and energy, when used properly.
- Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.
- Change filters regularly. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.
5) Windows—Highly efficient and airtight windows can significantly reduce your heating and cooling bills while improving your comfort.
- Shading—Trees, shade screens, retractable awnings, etc…
- Passive solar orientation and features.
6) Lights and Appliances—Replace as many incandescent with compact fluorescents (CFL) as you can.
- CFLs provides bright, warm light but uses about 75% less energy than standard lighting, produce 75 percent less heat, and lasts up to 10 times longer.
- If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars.
- Switching from traditional light bulbs to CFLs is an effective, accessible change every American can make right now to reduce energy use at home and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change. Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, cost little up front, and provide a quick return on investment.
- Occupancy sensors or motion detectors. Available at hardware stores.
- The five highest use fixtures in a home are typically the kitchen ceiling lights, the living or family room table and floor lamps, and outdoor porch or post lamp.
- Use ENERGY STAR rated appliances and products.
- Refrigerators. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use at least 15% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.
7) Water Savers—
- Low flow shower heads and fixtures
- Install aerators. Aerators mix air into the water to reduce the flow rate while maintaining water pressure. If a typical family of four uses aerators in the kitchen and bathroom they can reduce water use by more than 200 gallons a month!
- Aerators are inexpensive to replace and they can be one of the most cost-effective water conservation measures. For maximum water efficiency, purchase aerators that have flow rates of no more than 1.0 gpm.
- Low flow toilets. Dual Flush.
- Rain barrels.
- Consider xeriscape and drought resistant native plants and grasses.
8) Hot Water—
- Wrap your water heater with an insulation blanket and put rubber foam on all exposed hot water pipes that you have access to.
- Adding insulation to it can reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45%.
- You can reduce your water heating costs by simply lowering the thermostat setting on your water heater. For each 10ºF reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3%–5% in energy costs.
- Insulating your hot water pipes reduces heat loss and can raise water temperature 2ºF–4ºF hotter than uninsulated pipes can deliver, allowing for a lower water temperature setting. You also won't have to wait as long for hot water when you turn on a faucet or showerhead, which helps conserve water. Insulate all accessible hot water pipes, especially within 3 feet of the water heater. It's also a good idea to insulate the cold water inlet pipes for the first 3 feet
- Electric water heaters. If you have an electric water heater, you can save an additional 5%–12% of energy by installing a timer that turns it off at night when you don't use hot water and/or during your utility's peak demand times.
- Tank-less or instant water heaters.
- Direct vent.
9) IAQ—
- Use a high MERV rated filter for your HVAC system.
- Have an energy rater confirm that your combustion appliances are not back drafting into the living space in your home.
- Use real wood when buying furniture, cabinets, etc… Most pressed wood products such as particleboard, chipboard, and wafer board contain formaldehyde and synthetic adhesives.
- Use low or no VOC paints.
10 ) NC Green Power—The program accepts financial contributions from North Carolina citizens and businesses to help offset the cost to produce green energy. A typical contribution of just $4 per month adds one block of 100 kilowatt-hours of green energy to North Carolina’s power supply. Visit http://www.ncgreenpower.org/ for more information.
