The kit is used to light the entry sign for the Cordillera Resort outside of Vail. 
By Dan Harding
In America, we tend to think big. We want to make the big bucks, hit the big time and ride in our big trucks down big highways. But in the new age of green, the focus is changing to smaller cars and energy efficient homes. Goodbye, McMansion, hello cozy, easy-to-maintain eco-house.
Thankfully, for every big move into the green, there are 10 smaller, affordable moves that make a big difference. Indeed, it would be foolish to attempt any major home energy upgrade without taking the small steps first. A good portion of these steps are dirt cheap, providing a big boost to lifestyle, pocketbook and environment without the renovation headaches. Here are 10 home efficiency upgrades anyone can perform for about $20.
#1 - Switch to CFLs. The word is long out regarding compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). These snaky little fellows last many times longer than incandescent bulbs and use roughly one-quarter of the energy. While they cost more than an incandescent bulb, CFLs for typical household lighting fixtures are considerably less than $20.
#2 - Timer Switches. "Who left the light on?" is a question we've all heard before. Timer switches and motion sensors on light switches are an easy way to alleviate this problem. Most commonly, the ideal locale for a timer switch is the bathroom, one of the busiest rooms in the house with both lights and exhaust fans to be left on. A timer switch can be set to shut one or both off after a set period of time, usually about 5 minutes. Also useful for outdoor lighting. From $15 and up.
#3 - Programmable Thermostat. Finding a programmable thermostat for less than $20 could be a bit difficult. But it's not so hard to find a simple version in the vicinity. Even the price of more elaborate and expensive versions can sometimes be brought down by rebates now offered by many utility companies and state or local governments looking to meet energy standards.
#4 - Caulking and Weather-stripping. This upgrade is so effective that even the federal government offers a tax credit to help pay for it. It might amaze you what the price of a tube of caulk can do for your home's energy efficiency. Step one in readying a house for any larger upgrade is sealing it up and ridding it of pesky air leaks, many of which come from tiny gaps around windows and doors. Yes, caulking and weather-stripping an entire home may cost more than $20, but sometimes it doesn't take much and a little caulking goes a long way. One tube of caulk is $3. Weather-stripping runs you $5 to $25, depending on material and length.
#5 - Smart Power Strip. Ranging from $20 to $50, true eco-friendly power strips contain wattage sensors that detect when a device is in standby mode, and then automatically shut down all other devices attached to the strip. The most obvious application: a computer powered alongside a printer, scanner and other computer peripherals, not to mention the surge protection. Remember that using any power strip (smart or not) can be beneficial. It makes it much easier to turn off a group of electronic devices, helping to eliminate phantom loads and other out-of-sight-out-of-mind power losses.
#6 - Solar Garden Light. Turn off the porch light, let the sun light your way. Solar garden lights are now as cheap as $10 or less. No cords, no electrical work, just a simple stake in the ground. These lights are excellent for wirelessly and cleanly lighting entry walkways, garden paths, driveways, and more. I've even seen them used in place of hardwired lights at front doors (assuming you don't have a covered porch).
#7 - Clothesline or Tennis Ball. Dryers are some of the most energy intensive appliances in existence. Cutting your usage of these electricity-mongers can have a big effect on energy bills and household carbon footprint. A retractable clothesline typically costs $15 or less, and clothes pins are cheap too--perhaps the cheapest way to utilize solar energy. If the dryer is too essential for your lifestyle or living situation (there are indoor drying racks as well) and you like fluffy clothes and linens, toss a tennis ball or two in with the dryer. They act as static controllers, fluffers, softeners and speed up the drying process.
#8 - New AC Air Filters. An easy $5 habit to get into that won't give you lung cancer, cleaning or replacing the air filter in your air conditioning unit once per month can save a lot of money and energy annually. Not to mention improve indoor air quality considerably. Dirty filters block normal air flow, greatly reducing system efficiency and introducing unwanted particulates into the ambient air.
#9 - Water Heater Blanket. Water heating is second only to space heating and cooling in annual energy expenditure for the average American household. So, making your water heaters as efficient as possible is a big step. The easiest way to do this is to wrap your hot water tank in a blanket. In other words, insulate it. Cost of keeping your hot water hot? $13 and up.
#10 - Low-Flow Showerhead and Faucet. The low-flow toilet may be a slightly larger expense, but replacing an aging, inefficient showerhead or faucet with a water-conserving low-flow version is cheaper than ever. For the showerhead, simply buy a new model. They can get expensive but start as cheap as $10 to $20. For the sink, a new faucet for less than an Andrew Jackson may be hard to find, but it's no matter when an aerator attachment will handle it for you. We're talking as cheap as $1 and less than 1 gallon of water flow per minute.
Dan Harding is a well-versed veteran of solar critique, commentary and reporting. CalFinder Residential Solar Power is proud to tout Dan as their solar expert. He has published well over 1,000 articles on a wide variety of solar industry topics, ranging from cutting-edge technology and gadgetry to political satire and powerful editorials.
Another case of where solar is a fantastic solution: remote location, no power source, plenty of sunshine. Thanks to Ben Hocker for the picture. We LOVE showing off customers' installation and projects. 
"Cash for Caulkers" is nearly here. Last month the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5019 - also known as the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 or "Cash for Caulkers" - to kick-start construction, create jobs and cut back carbon emissions. While the bill still needs to clear the Senate, supporters predict it will pass this summer.
This is great news for homeowners and contractors alike. The bill provisions $6 billion for energy-efficient or "green" retrofits. It is expected to fund renovations for 3 million families, create 168,000 new jobs and save consumers $9.2 billion on energy bills over the next 10 years.
But in order to cash in on upcoming rebates, homeowners and contractors will need to do their homework. There are 13 types of retrofits eligible for funding. Each retrofit has unique eligibility requirements and set rebate amounts. You can read the full text here.
We made it really easy to wade through the legalese. Below is a table that breaks down the 13 retrofits of the bill, along with the requirements and rebate amount for each. In addition to the requirements we listed, each retrofit must comply with Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards or other procedures to be approved by the Secretary of Energy.
| Retrofit | Requirements | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Air sealing | Rebate covers both interior and exterior sealing and includes use of the following products: sealants, caulks, insulating foams, gaskets, weather-stripping, mastics, and other building materials. | $1,500 |
| Attic insulation | Must
meet the attic portions of the Department of Energy (DOE) or
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) thermal bypass checklist. You must
add at least R-19 insulation to existing insulation, and it must result
in at least R-38 insulation in DOE climate zones 1 through 4 and at
least R-49 insulation in DOE climate zones 5 through 8. Finally, it must
cover at least 100 percent of an accessible attic or 75 percent of the
total conditioned footprint of the house. | $1,000 |
| Duct replacement and sealing | Sealing must be installed in accordance with BPI standards or other procedures approved by the Secretary of Energy. For duct replacement, you must replace and seal at least 50 percent of a distribution system of the home. | $1,000 |
| Wall insulation | Insulation must be installed to full-stud thickness or add at least R-10 of continuous insulation. It must covers at least 75 percent of the total external wall area of the home. | $1,500 |
| Crawl space or basement insulation | Insulation must cover at least 500 square feet of crawl
space or basement wall and add at least R-19 of cavity insulation or
R-15 of continuous insulation to existing crawl space insulation; or
R-13 of cavity insulation or R-10 of continuous insulation to basement
walls. For rim joist insulation, you must fully cover the rim joist with
at least R-10 of new continuous or R-13 of cavity insulation. | $250 for rim joist insulation |
| Window replacement | Must
replace at least 8 exterior windows, or 75 percent of the exterior
windows in a home, whichever is less, with windows that are certified by
the National Fenestration Rating Council. Must comply with criteria
applicable to windows under section 25(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 or, in areas above 5,000 feet elevation, have a U-factor of at
least 0.35 when replacing windows that are single-glazed or
double-glazed with an internal air space of 1/4 inch or less. | $1,000 |
| Door or skylight replacement | Must replace at least 1 exterior door or skylight with doors or skylights that comply with the 2010 Energy Star specification for doors or skylights. | $125 per door or skylight with a limit of 2 doors and 2 skylights |
| Heating system replacement | See second table below | $1,000 |
| Air-source air conditioner or heat pump
installation | Must be installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA
Standard 5 QI-2007. The air-source air conditioner must meet or exceed
SEER 16 and EER 13; or SEER 18 and EER 15. The air-source heat pump must
meet or exceed SEER 15, EER 12.5, and HSPF 8.5. | $1,500 |
| Geothermal heat pump installation | Must be an Energy Star qualified geothermal heat pump that meets Tier 2 efficiency requirements and that is installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007. | $1,000 |
| Water heater replacement | See third table below | $1,000 |
| Storm windows or doors installation | Must be installed on at least 5 existing doors
or existing single-glazed windows. Must comply with any procedures that
the Secretary of Energy may set for storm windows or doors and their
installation. | $50 for each window or door with a minimum of 5 windows or doors and a maximum of 12 |
| Window film installation | Window film that is installed on at least 8 exterior windows, doors, or skylights, or 75 percent of the total exterior square footage of glass in a home, whichever is more, with window films that are certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council. Must have a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.43 or less with a visible light-to-solar heat gain coefficient of at least 1.1 for installations in 2009 International Energy Conservation Code climate zones 1-3; or a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.43 or less with a visible light light-to-solar heat gain coefficient of at least 1.1 and a U-factor of 0.40 or less as installed in 2009 International Energy Conservation Code climate zones 4-8. | $500 |
We also decided to combine these retrofits into three packages that will help homeowners get the best bang for their buck. But first, let's review the program details.
Who is Eligible and How to Qualify?
The Home
Star bill offers two rebate programs, the "Silver Star" program and
"Gold Star" program. Here are details for each:
The Home Star bill also includes rebates for do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowners that are confident in taking on the renovations themselves. DIY'ers can get up to $250 in rebates for products purchased without installation service. This rebate is limited to attic insulation, crawl space insulation and/or air-sealing retrofits.
Seal Your House Envelope and Improve Insulation
Before carrying out any serious retrofit, homeowners need to weatherize
and seal their house "envelope." The envelope includes outer walls,
windows, doors, floors and the ceiling. If the house is not properly
sealed and insulated, then subsequent HVAC retrofits won't be as
effective.
In some cases, savvy do-it-yourselfers may be able to handle these projects themselves. There are plenty of books and great online resources (e.g. ACEEE.org) that provide instructions. However, you should seriously consider hiring an auditor beforehand. Special diagnostics equipment will show where air is escaping and to what extent. For example, thermal imaging devices detect areas in walls that are poorly insulated and dispersing heat. This information would be unavailable without such devices.
So how much does it cost to seal all the air leaks in a home? Prices will obviously vary based on where you live, how big your property is and the scope of the retrofit. But it will likely cost a few thousand dollars to hire a contractor for this type of renovation. In this example from the New York Times, the author spent $3,760 for insulating and sealing the envelope of his 1,200 square foot home.
How much can homeowners expect to save? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that homeowners can save 20% on heating and cooling costs by sealing leaks and adding insulation. In New York - one of the most expensive places to heat a home with an average annual cost of $1,513 - this would be a yearly savings of $300 just for heating.
Continuing with the example from the New York Times, the Silver Star program would provide $1,880 (50%) in rebates for their retrofit. At an annual savings rate of $300, the renovation would pay for itself in six years (or less if you include cost savings from reduced air conditioning bills).
Repair and Replace Leaky Ducts
Ducts are
notoriously leaky and inefficient. They are one of the usual suspects in
a crime of high utility bills, or when rooms are difficult to heat and
cool. The EPA calculates that 20% of air moving through ductwork is lost
due to leaks, holes and poor connections. Other sources put estimates
closer to 40%. So while suffering from "leaky ducts" may sound
innocuous, it can have a big impact on the efficiency and costs of
heating and cooling your home.
Fortunately, duct replacement and sealing is eligible for funding under the Home Star bill. Many homeowners will want to outsource this project to a qualified HVAC contractor. Contractors have equipment to detect leaks that otherwise may not be immediately visible. They also have methods to seal ducts that are inaccessible. For example, by spraying an adhesive or sealant through the duct work.
Replacing and sealing ducts can also be a DIY project, especially when ducts can be easily accessed in an attic or basement. Leaks should be sealed with mastic sealant or metal tape (not duct tape), then insulated to reduce heat loss and to further improve efficiency. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has an excellent guide on how to seal and insulate ducts.
Upgrade Your Furnace and Water Heater
Heating is
the largest energy expense in homes, according to the American Council
for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). In colder parts of the country,
it makes up 30 to 50% of annual energy bills. So improving the heating
efficiency of your home will have the biggest impact on lowering your
energy costs. Sealing air leaks is a good start, but replacing your
heating system could provide real leverage towards cost savings.
If your furnace or boiler was purchased before 1990, then it is time to consider an upgrade. Modern furnaces are much more efficient than those that are older than 20 years. You can use rebates from the Home Star bill to replace your furnace, but you will need to meet their guidelines:
| Type of Replacement | Requirements | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement with a natural gas or propane furnace | The furnace must have an AFUE rating of 92 or greater;
or an AFUE rating of 95 or greater. Must be installed in accordance
with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007. | $750 |
| Replacement with a natural gas or propane boiler | Boiler must have an AFUE rating of 90 or greater. Must be installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007. | $1,000 |
| Replacement with an oil furnace | Furnace must have an AFUE rating of 86 or
greater and use an electrically commutated blower motor. Must be
installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007. | $1,000 |
| Replacement with an oil boiler | Boiler must have an AFUE rating of 86 or
greater and temperature reset or thermal purge controls. Must be
installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007. | $1,000 |
| Replacement with a wood or pellet furnace,
boiler, or stove | The new system must meet at least 75 percent
of the heating demands of the home; and in the case of a wood stove, but
not a pellet stove, replace an existing wood stove, but not a pellet
stove, and is certified by the Administrator of the EPA. The home must
have a distribution system (such as ducts, vents, blowers, or affixed
fans) that allows heat to reach all or most parts of the home. In the
case where an old wood stove is being replaced, a voucher must be
provided by the installer or other responsible party certifying that the
old wood stove has been removed and rendered inoperable or recycled at
an appropriate recycling facility. An accredited independent laboratory
recognized by the Administrator of the EPA must certify that the new
system has thermal efficiency (lower heating value) of at least 75
percent for wood and pellet stoves, and at least 80 percent for furnaces
and boilers; and has particulate emissions of less than 3.0 grams per
hour for stoves, and less than 0.32 lbs/mmBTU for outdoor furnaces and
boilers. | $500 for a wood or pellet stove that has a heating capacity of at least 28,000 Btu per hour. $1,000 if it provides 75% of the heating demands of the home. |
Water heaters are typically the second largest energy users after home heating and cooling systems. Replacing convention oil-fired water heaters with high-efficiency gas or electric heaters can save homeowners thousands of dollars over a 10 to 15 year period. The Home Star bill includes a variety of replacement options eligible for rebates.
| Replacement options | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|
| Replace with a natural gas or propane condensing
storage water heater with an energy factor of 0.80 or more, or a natural
gas or propane storage or tankless water heater with thermal efficiency
of 90 percent or more. | $1,000 |
| Replace with a tankless natural gas or propane
water heater with an energy factor of at least 0.82. | $750 |
| Replace with a natural gas or propane storage
water heater with an energy factor of at least 0.67. | $400 |
| Replace with an indirect water heater with an
insulated storage tank that has a storage capacity of at least 30
gallons and is insulated to at least R-16; and is installed in
conjunction with a qualifying boiler described in the previous table. | $1,000 |
| Replace with an electric water heater with an energy factor of 2.0 or more. | $1,000 |
| Replace with an electric tankless water heater
with an energy factor or thermal efficiency, as applicable, of .96 or
more or a thermal efficiency of 96 percent or more, that operates on not
greater than 25 kilowatts. | $250 each for a maximum of 4 electric tankless
water heaters |
| Replace with a solar hot water system that is
certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation or that
meets technical standards established by the State of Hawaii. | $1,000 |
| Replace with a water heater installed in conjunction with a qualifying geothermal heat pump - as described in our first table - that provides domestic water heating through the use of a desuperheater or year-round demand water heating capability. | $500 for a desuperheater |
An alternative to furnaces and boilers are ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). Also known as geothermal heat pumps, GSHPs are one of the most efficient systems for heating and cooling buildings. According to the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, GSHPs are 50 to 70% more efficient than other heating systems, and 20 to 40% more efficient than traditional air conditioners. They can also be used as an alternative water-heating system and save up to 50% on water-heating bills.
Ground source heat pumps are more economical than using oil or air-source heat pumps, but there is still a lot of debate over GSHPs versus natural gas. Homeowners will need carry out their own due diligence beforehand. For starters, here is an academic report that compares the two options.
Year over year, a ground source heat pump is more cost effective than natural gas. It's the initial cost that really drives down the return on investment (ROI) and makes natural gas a more attractive option. However, there are several rebates and tax credits available that help subsidize the upfront cost.
Additional Financing Resources
With other
legislation in the queue, it might take weeks or months to hear the
Senate's final decision on the Home Star bill. In the meantime,
homeowners can receive funding from other sources to pay for green
renovations. The federal government, state governments, local
municipalities and even utility companies offer several options.
For example, homeowners can still receive a federal tax credit for 30% of the cost of energy-efficient products (up to a total credit of $1,500). This includes the purchase of central air conditioning systems (both the product and installation), electric heat pumps, furnaces and boilers, and whole-house ventilation fans. Visit the US Department of Energy Energy Savers website for more information.
Another great resource is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency or "DSIRE" website. This allows you to view rebates, loan and grant programs, financing options and tax credits offered in your region.
Finally, new home buyers should consider an energy-efficient mortgage
or energy improvement mortgage. These mortgages allow consumers to
count savings from energy bills as additional income, ultimately giving
them more buying power. Home Energy Magazine has a helpful article here. Written by Houston Neal, see more of his work here: Software Advice.
