Energy Efficiency Solutions - San Luis Obispo, California
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Home Energy Improvements
In addition to being the place where you live and care for your family, your home is the single largest investment you are likely to own. It is important, therefore, that you know as much about it as possible. When you bought your home you, or your Real Estate agent, probably hired an inspector to verify that there were no problems hidden in the walls or attic. Your house is structurally sound, and doing the job for which you bought it, protecting you and your family.
However, how energy efficient is your home? This question is rarely asked, yet with ever-increasing fuel prices, it’s becoming essential. Few home inspectors are trained in energy efficiency, and it’s a newly-emerging issue for Real Estate agents as well. And, more and more lenders are considering “green” mortgages, favorable rates for energy-efficient homes.
In addition to being the place where you live and care for your family, your home is the single largest investment you are likely to own. It is important, therefore, that you know as much about it as possible. When you bought your home you, or your Real Estate agent, probably hired an inspector to verify that there were no problems hidden in the walls or attic. Your house is structurally sound, and doing the job for which you bought it, protecting you and your family.
However, how energy efficient is your home? This question is rarely asked, yet with ever-increasing fuel prices, it’s becoming essential. Few home inspectors are trained in energy efficiency, and it’s a newly-emerging issue for Real Estate agents as well. And, more and more lenders are considering “green” mortgages, favorable rates for energy-efficient homes.
Building Envelope
How tight is your house? Does it hold in the heat you’ve paid for? Or do air leaks allow cold air to infiltrate and heated air to escape? If it’s a new home, you may have the opposite problem: it may be sealed too tightly. Fresh air in a home is essential. If a house is too tight, odors from cooking, smoking, breathing, and out-gassing from rugs and furniture can seriously affect your health and that of your family.
A blower door test can show that your house allows for the recommended number of air changes per hour, without letting valuable heat escape. If the house is too leaky an experienced inspector can find the leaks and make recommendations to repair them. Your home will be snugger, and you’ll find the heater coming on less often. The result is peace of mind, and lower energy bills.
How tight is your house? Does it hold in the heat you’ve paid for? Or do air leaks allow cold air to infiltrate and heated air to escape? If it’s a new home, you may have the opposite problem: it may be sealed too tightly. Fresh air in a home is essential. If a house is too tight, odors from cooking, smoking, breathing, and out-gassing from rugs and furniture can seriously affect your health and that of your family.
A blower door test can show that your house allows for the recommended number of air changes per hour, without letting valuable heat escape. If the house is too leaky an experienced inspector can find the leaks and make recommendations to repair them. Your home will be snugger, and you’ll find the heater coming on less often. The result is peace of mind, and lower energy bills.
Duct Leakage
Forced air heating is an efficient, highly cost-effective way to heat homes, and the one most often used in new construction. However, studies by the California Energy Commission have found that on average about 30% of heated air escapes from ducts into unheated spaces such as the attic or the crawl space under the house. (In older homes, it’s often higher than 30%!). Not only is this heat lost to the outside, but the heating system must draw in cold, outside air to replace the air lost. Even worse, some of that air drawn into your home may come from a musty, damp crawlspace, or a carbon-monoxide laden garage. Or from an attic full of insulation dust. Result: even more fuel used, even higher heating bills, and a potential health hazard for you and your family. Having your heating ducts tested and sealed may be the best thing you can do to save energy, money, and your health.
Forced air heating is an efficient, highly cost-effective way to heat homes, and the one most often used in new construction. However, studies by the California Energy Commission have found that on average about 30% of heated air escapes from ducts into unheated spaces such as the attic or the crawl space under the house. (In older homes, it’s often higher than 30%!). Not only is this heat lost to the outside, but the heating system must draw in cold, outside air to replace the air lost. Even worse, some of that air drawn into your home may come from a musty, damp crawlspace, or a carbon-monoxide laden garage. Or from an attic full of insulation dust. Result: even more fuel used, even higher heating bills, and a potential health hazard for you and your family. Having your heating ducts tested and sealed may be the best thing you can do to save energy, money, and your health.
Insulation Inspection
Turning your thermostat down is a sure way of saving energy. However, if the insulation in your home is too thin, or badly installed, it will take too much energy to keep your home warm at any temperature. While determining the quality of the insulation in the walls of a finished home requires special equipment, most attics are easily accessible. A quick visual inspection can show areas where a small investment in time and materials can pay off in energy savings for decades to come.
Turning your thermostat down is a sure way of saving energy. However, if the insulation in your home is too thin, or badly installed, it will take too much energy to keep your home warm at any temperature. While determining the quality of the insulation in the walls of a finished home requires special equipment, most attics are easily accessible. A quick visual inspection can show areas where a small investment in time and materials can pay off in energy savings for decades to come.
