- Appliances: use less power
- Beware vampire appliances
- Commercial building energy assessments
- Commercial building incentives
- Common mistakes
- Gifts that save energy all year
- Heating and coolling savings
- Holiday lighting: festive & efficient
- Insulation types: pros & cons
- Kitchens: ways to save
- Lower your utility bills
- Path to Energy Efficiency
- Programmable Thermostats
- Radon: test after energy upgrade
- Refrigerator: retire for quick payback
- Resolutions to conserve energy and save money
- Seal duct leaks
- Stack Effect Influences Energy Use
- Systems in house work together
- Wash clothes in cold water
- Water heating bills
- Where to make home improvements
- Windows: repair, don't replace
Energy-efficiency work for homeowners and contractors continues as winter winds down
Your Path to Energy Savings
By Guillermo Metz, Special to The Ithaca Journal
March 7, 2011
The days may be getting longer and the temperatures creeping into the 40s, but that does not mean you can wait until next winter to make your home more energy efficient. The time is always right to make improvements that will decrease your heating and cooling bills, cut your electricity costs, and increase the value of your home. These improvements will pay off in just a few years, in many cases, and in the meantime you will be living in a much more comfortable, healthier space.
The first step is having a certified contractor conduct an energy assessment, or audit, of your home; these are now offered free to most homeowners. This will identify inefficient appliances and leaks-most homes have dozens of small leaks that can add up to leaving a window open 24/7. The contractors can also test indoor air quality and suggest ways to reduce your exposure to mold, radon, and other pollutants.
They will then recommend a variety of work that typically reduces energy costs by 20 percent or more. Many of the improvements start with low-cost things you can do yourself, such as weather-stripping and caulking around windows and doors. For more extensive work, there are several assistance programs and financing options you may qualify for.
And if you're a contractor, builder, or handyman, energy-efficiency work is a very promising, fast-growing field. Whether you're interested for your own home or your career, you can learn more at the Green Building Seminar Series' second presentation, this Wednesday, March 9, at 7pm. Shawn Lindabury, Community Energy Educator, and Dee Gamble, Green Jobs Program Coordinator (and BPI-certified), both with Cooperative Extension, will go through the entire audit process and discuss what it takes to become BPI certified.
