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Web Extra: Solutions for Your Home's Energy Crisis

From "Best Built Home"
episode DBBH-104F

Feeling helpless in the face of the rising costs of energy? There are many areas in your home where you can trim down your energy needs with just a little brain power.

The EnergyGuide label, which appears on all labels, will tell you how efficient that appliance is. Image source: www.energystar.gov

Look for this Energy Star logo to be sure you're buying energy efficient appliances. Image source: www.energystar.gov

Spray foam insulation has become a popular choice for air-sealing your home.

First, you might start by beginning to understand where your energy use is coming from. Surprisingly, heating and cooling make up only 45 percent of total energy use in the average American home, so where is the other usage coming from? The answer is a variety of sources including your water heater, which may take 11 percent, and your washer and dryer may take another 10 percent. Miscellaneous appliances such as ovens and microwaves make up 15 percent, while the lighting represents another 7 percent of energy use in the home, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Taking steps to reduce all of this energy use in your home not only helps the overall performance of your home, but also makes the world a little cleaner. Lower energy needs translates into less greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and a healthier environment.

Here are some smart tips on how to resolve high energy use in your home:

Appliances

Have you updated your appliances lately? Cooking and dishwashing make up about 10 percent of energy use per year in American households, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Appliances are one of those energy uses that we take for granted, but they contribute heavily to the total on your monthly bill, especially when they're older and lack the innovations for efficiency that recent manufacturers have incorporated into new products. One way to choose energy efficient appliances is to check for the Energy Star® label, a program through the EPA that qualifies energy-efficient products. On refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers and water heaters you can also check for the model's estimated annual energy consumption on the yellow and black EnergyGuide label, required by the Federal Trade Commission.

Lighting

Energy Star also provides guidance on choosing light bulbs and light fixtures. Think about the five lights in your house that you use most -- this typically includes the kitchen and bathroom. Changing just these five lights with Energy Star qualified bulbs or fixtures can save your household $60 per year.

Insulation and Air Sealing

An envelope is not just the packet you send to the gas company each month -- there is one envelope that actually saves you money. A home envelope describes the protective shell between your home's interior and the outdoor elements. Insulation and air sealing are critical components of the envelope that can affect the home's energy use. In either new or existing homes, simple planning for insulation and air sealing will help to improve the performance of building envelope, contributing to lower heating and cooling bills. Look for the insulation's R-value (resistance to the movement of heat) on its labeling and compare with recommended levels for your region. (See the Insulation Fact Sheet from the U.S. Department of Energy.)
Air sealing maintains a room's temperature by closing off leaks and gaps with material such as caulk, spray foam or weather stripping where conditioned air can escape. Good air sealing also improves the performance and durability of insulation, which degrades and becomes less effective when exposed to open air.

Optimized Equipment

Your heating and cooling equipment is another important aspect of your home to check. Commonly referred to as the mechanical system in your home, this equipment includes your furnace, air-conditioner and air handler -- and your builder or contractor should take care to determine the specifications for this equipment correctly. Equipment that is too big for a home will heat or cool a home too much, too soon, and this is a common problem. The ideal mechanical system will run more frequently to provide a consistent, comfortable air temperature and healthy mixing of air. A good duct system design will complement the selection of optimal equipment if the ductwork is placed within conditioned space and also sized accordingly to suit your home.

As you can see, fiddling with the thermostat isn't the only way to reduce energy use in your home. There are many planning, design, and construction strategies, including product selection, which can improve this important -- and economical -- aspect of owning a home.

For more information:

Federal Trade Commission
Website: Energy Guide to Major Home Appliances