Energy Efficiency: Science fact vs. Science fiction

Energy Efficiency: Science fact vs. Science fiction
By Matt Coapman | President | Green Home LLC

“Going green,” you hear those two words a lot these days. Green is in the news, in the paper, and on the tip of all of our tongues. As a nation, we have been challenged to conserve energy and are being rewarded with substantial tax credits by both our federal and state governments to put the rubber on the road when it comes to energy conservation. Significant savings on your utility bills combined with robust tax incentives make energy efficiency one the highest returns on investment available today. Let’s put that in real terms. For every $1 you invest in your home’s performance you should see a $4 return in less than 10 years!

Educating yourself on the basic principles of energy conservation and putting them to work in your home will save money, build community wealth, impact your health, make your home last longer, increase comfort, reduce noise, and prevent pollution.

Let’s put it in perspective. Our buildings use 40% of the total energy on the grid, more than industry and transportation. What’s more, buildings waste up to 50% of that energy! Most homes in and around Charlotte can save 25% to 30% of their annual energy bills by putting a few building science practices into use.

The question I hear from homeowners all the time is, where do I get the biggest bang for my buck when it comes to energy efficiency? When answering these questions it is important to separate fact from fiction.

Energy Fact:
Controlling air leaks will give you the absolute biggest bang for your buck and will make your home more comfortable at the same time.

Energy Fact:
Over 50 cups of water a year spill into your home for every 1 square inch of air leakage. Controlling moisture will drastically reduce the cost of cooling your home in the summer.

Energy Fact:
Running your clothes dryer creates negative pressure and moves over 300 cubic feet of air out of your home every minute. That is the equivalent of 9,000 milk crates of air in 30 minutes. Your home replaces that air through leaks and you have to pay to reheat it.

Energy Myth:
To improve the energy efficiency of a home, just add more insulation!

*If your home already has even modest insulation you will see the biggest return by stopping the air leaks. A good rule of thumb for the do it yourselfer is start on the highest air leaks in the home as they help most to reduce the stack effect (attic hatch, plumbing, and electrical penetrations in the attic).

Energy Myth:
Closing off registers in unused rooms will save energy.

*Turning off the hissing heat radiator in the vacant guest room might have made sense in an older, non-insulated home, but it doesn’t save energy with today's typical forced air heating and cooling systems. Instead of closing off registers, consider setting the thermostat a degree or two higher in the summer or lower in the winter to save energy.

Energy Myth:
When I turn my appliances off they are not using any electricity.

*We've found that most devices continue to consume power when they're switched off, sometimes as much power as when they're on! Energy ‘vampires’ can add up to 8% of your total energy usage over a year.

There is no better time than right now to start thinking about energy conservation. Your wallet, family, and environment will thank you for it. So…. get out your pencil and calculators and perform a do-it-yourself home energy audit. When you are ready, call a professional home energy auditor to go under the hood. They should test your home’s air leakage, combustion equipment, and dissect your energy bills to give you the most effective recommendations that combine savings and health.

By Matt Coapman | President | Green Home LLC

Green Home provides homeowners in Charlotte with comprehensive home health and energy audits. Discover effective ways to increase your home's energy efficiency and lower energy bills.