Watt's Happening? How to Find an Energy-Efficient Home
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration
(www.eia.doe.gov) and the Safe Energy Communications
Council (www.safeenergy.org), New Hampshire businesses
and residents pay for some of the most expensive electricity in
the country.
As such, energy efficiency should be a top concern for
homebuyers in this area. But how can you tell if a house is
efficient?
The prove is in the billing. Ask the selling agent for a month-by-
month summary of the past two years’ utility bills. Unusually
high heating bills can merely be indicative of some extravagant
living. But chances are it demonstrates some poor insulation.
Another tip is to look at the house in winter. (Or ask for winter
photographs.) If eaves are draped with icicles, and there is
little snow on the roof, it could mean that heat is escaping
through the attic. If the roof is piled high with the white stuff, it’s
a good sign that the attic is well-insulated ... or that a blizzard
occurred!
For a first-hand and better idea of how well a house saves
energy, you have to play home detective and keep your eyes
open. Here are a few things you should pay close attention to
when reviewing homes:
Windows: Look for insulated double- or triple-paned windows.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, insulated
windows can reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent!
Insulation: Proper insulation is key to both heating and
cooling. Insulation is measured by an “R” value, the “R”
representing the insulation’s resistance to heat flow. The
higher the “R” rating, the better. For New Hampshire, the U.S.
Department of Energy recommends insulation levels of R-49
for attics and R-18 to R-28 for exterior walls. To estimate R
ratings for standard fiberglass insulation, 3 inches equals about
R-10; a foot of insulation is approximately an R-36.
Admittedly, for older homes, it’s tough to verify insulation R-
factors without actually peeking inside a wall, crawl space, or
attic.
Ventilation: When examining a house, get a feel for how well
it’s ventilated. Consider window and door placement and if
there are any ceiling fans or attic fans. Proper ventilation in the
living areas makes a house more comfortable, reducing the need for air conditioning in the summer, and possibly
eliminating cold spots in the winter.
Heating systems: Without a doubt, newer furnaces -- whether
oil-, wood-, gas-burning or electric -- are much more energy-
efficient than their older counterparts of yesteryear. The most
energy-efficient heating systems are geothermal heat pumps
and radiant floor heating systems. When looking at homes,
consider the age of the heating system and look for an Energy
Star label. (Energy Star is a program managed by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency that enables consumers to
identify energy-efficient appliances and systems.) The average
rating for today’s high-efficiency heating systems are better
than 93, which means that for every dollar spent in operation,
93 percent is put back into the home as warm air.
Other considerations include the age of the water heater, the
availability of programmable thermostats, and the existence
of fireplaces or stoves that may augment the heating system.
Fireplaces, however, don’t always help a heating system’s
efficiency. Without properly installed flues, fireplaces can waste
energy as heat rises up and out the chimney.
Landscaping: Your house’s surroundings and orientation also
play a big role in energy consumption. For example, a house
surrounded by trees will be better protected from chilling winds
than a house in the great wide open. On the other hand, a
preponderance of tall pines may shade your home from winter
sun. In this respect, deciduous trees are better on the south
side of the house than are evergreens.
Appliances: Depending on your lifestyle, the energy-efficiency
of your appliances can save you a lot of money each month. If
refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, washers, and/or dryers
come with the house, look for the Energy Star label to see how
well the included appliances compare to other models. In the
end, you may want to buy a new appliance anyway, rendering
included appliances moot bargaining tools.
Weather proofing: Inspect the condition of caulking and
weather stripping around doors and windows as well as
insulation around hot- and cold-water pipes. Look for gaps and
see if you can feel drafts around windows and wall outlets.
(However, when it comes time to make an offer and negotiate,
remember that these things are the easiest and often cheapest
things to do yourself.)
For more information on energy-efficiency, visit the EPA’s
online Home Energy Advisor at http://hit.lbl.gov.
