Energy Secretary sets example through energy efficiency in own home

Homeowners who are skeptical of converting their properties to energy-efficient homes for cost or aesthetic reasons should be aware the secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy has been able to overcome both challenges as he enhances his own home.

In an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Secretary Steven Chu said that he had been able to cut his energy bill in half by making simple repairs related to heating and insulation. The most difficult challenge in achieving home energy efficiency, according to Chu, is closing off any air leaks in the home. This includes sealant gaps in windows and doors, in addition to any leaks in the ducts of HVAC systems. But, heating and insulation can be improved with some minor repairs.

Chu recommends using a special sealant, not duct tape, to repair compromised HVAC ducts. In his own home, Chu went as far as to seal off the mail slot on his door.

"I take this very attractive little quilt that I nail onto the mailbox door on the inside, so when the mailman slides the mail through, it's this quilted blanket, if you will, that … keeps the mailbox closed," Chu told the newspaper. "[My wife] thinks it's ugly. I think it's beautiful."

While homeowners may not choose to go to this extreme to make their homes more green, they should consider hiring a local home inspection service that can help them determine strategies for improving energy use.

Chu estimated that like most home energy enhancements, new energy-efficient insulation will cost a homeowner about $1,000 in materials and labor, but the energy savings will surpass these upfront costs in about one year. But, even more marginal changes, such as replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs, can save homeowners money – in this case about $25 annually per bulb.

Effective heating and insulation are integral to energy-efficient homes run by environmentally conscious homeowners, even if they are often overlooked in favor of green appliances, windows and other recent industry developments.

The majority of energy costs go toward moderating a home's temperature, so if insulation becomes compromised, utility bills could spike. Energy-efficient insulation may not be difficult to come by, as homeowners have several options when it comes to keeping their homes insulated.

The two most common types of insulation are fiberglass batt and blown-in cellulose. Homeowners should be aware that insulation is assessed by how well it slows down heat transfer. High levels of this measure – the resistance ("R") value – should be sought out by homeowners.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, air most often leaks out of a home through the attic and near where the roof's eaves meet the walls of the home's uppermost story. Air enters the home through windows, doors, dryer vents, outdoor faucets and where stories abut.

Ideally, insulation options should be considered from the moment a builder starts construction on a home, but these materials can be repaired and replaced if necessary, especially if they are in an accessible location such as an attic.

"Insulation is part of a building system that includes the framing and the windows," architect and Washington Post author Katherine Salant said. "To get the best performance you need to take these all into account."

A home inspection professional in the Maryland area will know the type of insulation that will most benefit a particular homeowner and be able to assess whether the materials currently installed in a particular home are effectively doing their job.

Energy-efficient homes that achieve the highest industry ranking for green initiatives may not be as common as their commercial counterparts, but the standards are just as obtainable if homeowners are willing to channel their resources toward energy enhancement. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard is regarded by building owners and the general public as the pinnacle of green energy assessment. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) tracks and inspects LEED-certified properties, which must meet certain standards involving water use, air quality, energy efficiency and building materials. Last week, the USGBC announced that Washington, D.C. had achieved the best per capita rate of LEED-certified square footage in buildings. The nation’s capital checked in with 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person last year, while Colorado, Illinois, Virginia, Washington and Maryland followed next in line. “Looking past the bricks and mortar, people are at the heart of what buildings are all about,” USGBC president and CEO Rick Fedrizzi said in a press release. “Examining the per capita value of LEED square footage in these states allows us to focus on what matters most – the human element of green buildings.” Washington, D.C.’s impressive ranking – the next closest states all had rates of about 2 per capita square feet of LEED-certified space – is likely attributable to the Better Buildings Initiative, which this blog reported about last month. The program, launched in February 2011, requires all government buildings to improve their energy efficiency by 20 percent before 2020. At a press conference last month, President Barack Obama expressed optimism that other cities would enact similar programs. Homeowners can follow Washington, D.C.’s example and strive toward achieving home energy efficiency for themselves. The first step could be to contact a local D.C. home inspector who can conduct energy audit and suggest strategies for slashing utility bills.

There may be no such a thing as a free lunch, but for consumers who are willing to invest in home energy efficiency, energy bills could be eliminated entirely if a new prototype designed by California students can be replicated by builders.

Students from the California Institute of Technology and the Southern California Institute of Architecture worked together to create a home that is the model for any homeowner striving to make his or her home more green.

According to Los Angeles ABC affiliate KABC, the compact, hyper-insulated prototype (CHIP) home is intended to inspire and educate local homeowners to embrace energy-efficiency in their own homes, even if they don't go to the extreme lengths of the CHIP home. It is currently on public display so citizens can see how 100 percent energy efficiency can be achieved.

The schools' solar decathlon team constructed the 733-square foot home, which is powered entirely by solar panels. Optimal energy-efficient insulation keeps the home airtight, moderates its temperature and eliminates the need for significant energy use. According to the students behind the effort, some homeowners may actually be able to make money off the energy improvements if they live in communities in which homeowners are rewarded financially for energy efficiency.

"They start to think in new and innovative ways about how they might better insulate their homes while they are simultaneously investing in solar panels to power their homes," student Brian Zentmyer told the news source.

While the CHIP home sets a lofty standard for homeowners, a home inspection company in Maryland can assess a home's heating and insulation to determine whether there are extraneous energy costs that the homeowner can eliminate with some cost-effective solutions. From installing CFL bulbs to more involved reforms like replacing leaky windows, there are a myriad of ways to make homes more green.

Energy-efficient homes are not complete until they have technologically advanced light bulbs that also keep homes well-lit. These bulbs, while more expensive at the time of purchase, provide homeowners with substantial financial benefits over their lifetimes – hundreds of dollars for some individuals.

According to The New York Times, the Environmental Protection Agency awarded Eco Hatchery's Light Bulb Finder mobile application its "Best Overall" title last fall. The application allows homeowners to input their location, at which point the device will tell the user how much money he or she could be saving by using CFL bulbs and LED light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs.

The Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union have released a guide for homeowners that will help them discern between their different lighting options. According to the guide, the packages of most new bulbs will have specific lighting facts, similar to nutrition labels found on food, that detail how much energy the bulb will use, its estimated cost over its lifetime and what specific color tone the bulb emits.

As with any scenario involving change, some consumers may still not feel comfortable with these new lighting options, despite the information being provided to them through mobile applications and other sources. These homeowners should contact an experienced Maryland home inspector who can draw upon years of energy knowledge to help this homeowner strike a balance between lower energy bills and optimum light quality.

Maryland homeowners should also understand that inspectors will be able to perform an energy audit that will hone in on qualities of a home that rob it of energy efficiency. Some of these malfunctions, such as inadequate insulation, may not be immediately noticeable to most homeowners.