Energy Efficiency – Improving your HVAC Systems

There has been a great proliferation of “green” building interest by homebuyers and builders over the last few years. Building energy efficient homes and cultivating energy efficiency in our homes can increase their value. We all hear a lot about reducing our “environmental footprint,” the amount of energy that we use and the amount of waste that we create. One of the best places to begin making our homes energy efficient is in our homes, ensuring that they use energy as efficiently as possible. Here are some of the ways to look at energy efficiency and what to consider in choosing or renovating a home.

There are numerous mortgage programs that allow home buyers to finance the cost of energy improvements into their mortgage in response to the growing demand to conserve energy in our homes. These new mortgages increase their loan-to-value, or improve their qualifying ratios. Some of the more common improvements that are used to make homes more energy efficient include the addition of high efficiency heating/cooling systems, and improved insulation. All of these contribute to reduced energy use, and also make homes quieter, more comfortable, and more desirable. There are two types of financing options available that cover a variety of situations for energy efficient homes. These mortgage programs allow buyers to buy more expensive homes that have a lower ownership cost that offsets the larger mortgage payment.

 

Making an energy efficient home

The heating and cooling costs of a home represents the largest cost outside of the home mortgage expense. Everyone wants a home that is comfortable to live in, and yet it can be expensive reaching a comfortable level of costs associated. Energy efficiency can be defined as the use of products or systems that use less energy to do the same or better job as conventional products. In home construction and performance, there are many areas where energy efficiency can be attained, to allow you to meet those desired comfort levels. The EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program has developed a process for evaluating products used in a home, such as appliances, windows, lighting and other products that meet or exceed efficiency standards or recommendations. When choosing products for a home, ensure the products meet Energy Star ratings. These can include the furnace, air conditioning and water heater performance, replacement of appliances in the home, and installation of energy efficient lighting.

 

Other design aspects have a significant impact on the energy performance of a home. For the environment, insulation levels should be correct, and more importantly, good installation of the insulation is critical in ensuring it is performing at the expected levels. Air penetration and seepage can be another area where hidden openings in the building shell can let heat and cooling losses happen, thus reducing the home’s performance efficiency.

In addition to the presentation of individual components in a home, the EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program also works with builders to qualify and certify home performance, to ensure that maximum performance is achieved. ENERGY STAR® qualified homes are designed to be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code. ENERGY STAR® qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-efficient improvements that deliver better performance, greater comfort, and lower utility bills. ENERGY STAR® homes have had their energy efficiency independently verified by an inspector known as a Home Energy rater. A Home Energy rater will inspect and test the home during construction, and verify that the home meets EPA’s strict guidelines for energy efficiency.

 

RESNET; Establishes rules for the energy rating industry

RESNET was founded in 1995 to develop a national market for home energy ratings and energy efficient mortgages. RESNET’s main goal was the development of standards for the rating services quality. The standards set the national procedures for home energy ratings, and include testing and accreditation for raters and providers, development of confirmation processes for homes meeting EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program and energy efficient building standards, as well as meeting local Energy Code compliance. A certified HVAC rater follows a set standard as to how a home is measured, verified and rated, and must comply with national standards to continue to perform certified ratings.

 

What is an energy audit?

A home energy audit consists of a full visual analysis of the mechanism and aspects of the home, along with energy efficiency performance testing of air infiltration with a tool called a blower door. Evaluation of home energy bills can also be included. A blower door slightly de-pressurizes the home and reduces the amount of air leakage present. The home is compared to a hypothetical reference home that is based on the IECC 2004, and the home is then provided with a rating. The rating can be a numerical rating based upon the EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program requirements.

Along with the actual accomplishment, the homeowner will be given details on areas of the home that need to be improved, in order to save energy costs further and improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.