Top 10 Green Upgrades that will lower your Utility Bills

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1. When Replacing your Electric Clothes Dryer, Switch to a Natural Gas Model

Natural gas clothes dryers reduce your home’s peak load on the power grid compared to an electric dryer.  When replacing your electric clothes dryer, select a natural gas model. In many situations, this will reduce your overall energy bill because natural gas tends to cost less than electricity, for the same heating value.

Purchasing Tips:

• To use a gas dryer, your laundry room must have a gas hookup, with proper connections and safe venting of the gas’s exhaust, in addition to an electrical outlet
• Look for a dryer with a moisture sensor, and use the dryness settings rather than timed drying.
• When replacing your clothes washer, choose a model with high-speed spin cycles. This feature removes more water from clothes, which reduces the energy and time required for drying.

 

2. Replace High Use Incandescent Lamps with Compact Fluorescent Lamps

Fluorescent lamps last several times longer than ordinary incandescent bulbs, which saves you the time and expense of replacing bulbs when they burn out.  Replace high-use incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps.These units can save up to 75% of the energy used by an ordinary incandescent bulb.

Purchasing Tips:

• Compare the light output in Lumens of the bulb you are replacing to ensure you are using the appropriate CFL.Most CFLs list their light output and equivalent incandescent wattage on their package.
• CFLs are available in many shapes and sizes, which will allow replacing nearly any incandescent bulb.
• When buying new light fixtures, look for ENERGY STAR qualified models.
• CFLs are a good investment for lights that are used 2-3 hours per day on average or more.

 

3. Insulate Ducts in Unconditioned Spaces to at Least R-6

Well-insulated ducts can help avoid rooftop ice-dam formation during the winter.  Insulate all exposed ducts in unconditioned spaces to R-6, unless those ducts are already insulated to at least R-4.The average forced-air duct system loses about 30% of the energy produced by the furnace or air conditioner in the course of distributing air to the rooms. This energy loss can be reduced by sealing duct joints with mastic or high-quality duct tape, and insulating ducts in unconditioned spaces.

Purchasing Tips:

• When replacing your duct insulation, choose R-8 or follow your state or local code.
• Be sure a well-sealed vapor barrier exists on the outside of the insulation on cooling ducts to prevent moisture buildup.
• Remember that insulating ducts in the basement will make the basement colder. If both the ducts and the basement walls are uninsulated, consider insulating both.

 

4. When Replacing your Clothes Washer, Choose an ENERGY STAR-Labeled Model

ENERGY STAR® clothes washers can reduce water use significantly, leave the clothes drier thus reducing drying time and energy consumption, and reduce wear and tear on clothes.  When replacing your clothes washer, choose an ENERGY STAR-labeled model. ENERGY STAR clothes washers can reduce energy consumption by up to 70% and are available in top-loading and front-loading designs. Some ENERGY STAR models use up to 50% less water in addition to saving energy.

Note: Our calculations bill savings, typical upgrade costs, and cost-effectiveness are for a model with the lowest efficiency that qualifies for the ENERGY STAR label.

Purchasing Tips:

• Choose a clothes washer with high-speed spin cycles. This feature removes more water from clothes, which reduces the energy and time required for drying.
• Select a low water-use, high efficiency washer. Front-loading tumble-action washers can cut energy use by up to 70 percent, reduce water consumption significantly, and may actually get clothes cleaner.
• Look for pre-soaking and/or “suds saver” options which conserve energy.
• Clothes washers come with EnergyGuide yellow and black labels. Use these labels to select the most efficient model for the capacity you have chosen.

 

5. Install a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats can help keep your home more comfortable.  Install an ENERGY STAR labeled programmable thermostat, and program it to change the temperature settings when you are away from home and at night. EPA estimates that ENERGY STAR-labeled programmable thermostats can save consumers 10-15% on heating and cooling bills when used properly. Note: Our calculations bill savings and cost-effectiveness assume that the heating-season set-point is decreased 4 degrees F during the day 9 am to 5 pm and at night 11 am to 7 pm, while the cooling-season set-point is increased 3 degrees F during those same periods. Larger set-point adjustments can provide additional bill savings.

Purchasing Tips:

• Some programmable thermostats have a “smart” feature designed to maximize energy savings. These thermostats continually monitor usage patterns in order to determine the best time to turn the system on in order to reach the desired temperature setting, while minimizing energy use.

 

6. When Replacing your Gas Water Heater, Choose an Energy Efficient Model

Efficient gas-fired water heaters may hold their temperature longer following power interruptions and operate more safely.

When replacing your gas water heater, choose an energy-efficient model with an Energy Factor of 0.62 or higher.

Note: Our calculations bill savings, typical upgrade costs, and cost-effectiveness assume the efficient water heater has an energy factor of 0.62 and recovery efficiency of 0.76. Higher efficiency units are available, and would provide additional energy savings.

Purchasing Tips:

• The most important measure of efficiency for water heaters is the Energy Factor EF. The higher the EF, the more efficient the water heater.
• Purchase a water heater whose tank is internally insulated with at least R-16. 5
• A water heater that is too large for your home not only has a higher purchase cost but will increase your energy costs due to excessive cycling and standby losses.
• The size, or “capacity”, of a fuel-fired water heater should be judged by its first hour rating FHR, not its tank size. Due to larger burners, some gas water heaters with smaller tanks actually have higher capacities FHRs than models with larger tanks.
• Many types of water heaters are now available, such as “demand” tankless, “indirect” or “integrated”, and solar-assisted water heaters.
• New and/or efficient gas water heaters may have different venting and flue requirements. When replacing your water heater make sure your contractor assesses your existing flue, follows new code requirements for venting water heaters, and obtains necessary permits and inspections.

 

7. When Replacing your Windows, Choose a Double-Pane Solar-Control Low-E Argon Gas Wood Frame Window

Energy-efficient windows can make your home more comfortable year-round, reduce condensation, block outside noise, improve fire safety, and cut back on ultraviolet radiation that can fade your carpets and furniture.  When replacing windows, choose a double-pane, solar-control low-E, argon gas-filled, wood or vinyl frame window.

Note: The annual bill savings and cost-effectiveness assume that you replace all of your windows with windows that have U-factor=0.36 and SHGC=0.31 see the links in More Information for an explanation of these units. Bill savings will be less if you do not replace all of your windows, but the cost-effectiveness of replacing less than all of your windows should be approximately the same as shown above. Windows with even better performance are available, and could provide additional energy savings.

Purchasing Tips:

• Choose a window that is appropriate for your climate. ENERGY STAR window labels have a Climate Region Map that indicates which of four broad climate regions Northern, North/Central, South/Central, or Southern the window qualifies for. Make sure the window you choose is appropriate for the region you live in.
• Consider different types of glazing for windows on different sides of your house to benefit from passive solar energy and maximize energy benefits. Install the lowest U-value windows you can afford on north-facing windows. Select windows with appropriate low-e coatings for your location on the east, west, and south sides of your house.
• To maximize energy performance, choose windows with larger unbroken glazing areas instead of multi-pane or true-divided-light windows. Applied grills that simulate true- divided-light windows, however, do not reduce energy efficiency.
• Choose windows with good warranties against the loss of the air seal. If the glazing seal is lost, not only will fogging occur, but also any low-conductivity gas between the layers of glass will immediately be lost.
• If summer heat gain is a problem in your house, look for windows with low-e coatings, especially spectrally selective low-e coatings, which significantly reduce solar heat gain and improve insulation without affecting visible light or color. Tinted windows also reduce solar heat gain, but they transmit less visible light.
• Look for the National Fenestration Rating Council NFRC label to help you compare performance and other features.”
• Select windows with low air leakage ratings – between 0.01 and 0.06 cfm/ft.

 

8. When Replacing your Gas Furnace, Choose an ENERGY STAR-Labeled Model

ENERGY STAR® gas-fired furnaces make your home more comfortable. Some models are less prone to causing indoor air quality problems or house fires. When replacing your gas furnace, choose an ENERGY STAR-labeled model. These units can save 15% or more of your heating bill.

Note: Our calculations bill savings, typical upgrade costs, and cost-effectiveness are for a furnace with the lowest efficiency that qualifies for the ENERGY STAR label 90 AFUE. Higher efficiency models are available, which can provide additional bill savings.

Purchasing Tips:

• Buy the right size of furnace for your needs. If you have upgraded your home’s insulation or windows since your last furnace was installed, you may be able to down-size your furnace i.e., buy a smaller-capacity furnace which can reduce the cost. If you buy a furnace that is too big for your home’s needs, it will have short cycle times and reduced efficiency as a result. A furnace that is properly sized costs less to operate. Be sure to have your contractor perform a heat-loss, heat-gain calculation, and do not rely on rule-of-thumb sizing estimates, which are often inaccurate.
• If you live in a large house, consider purchasing one of the higher efficiency furnaces that come with two-stage burners. These burners allow the furnace to operate at lower burn rates using less fuel when the home’s heating demand is low. When the heating demand is higher, the second stage burner is employed. The additional savings from this feature may well be worth the cost if you live in a large home.
• New and/or efficient furnaces often have different venting and flue requirements. When replacing your furnace make sure your contractor assesses your existing flue, follows new code requirements for venting furnaces, and obtains necessary permits and inspections.
• All new furnaces are labeled with their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency AFUE. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the unit.
• Consider selecting a furnace with an electronically commutated, or ECM, blower motor. ECM motors are considerably more efficient than standard motors. Consider this feature especially if you run your furnace fan all year long for such things as comfort or air cleaning. A furnace fan with an ECM motor could cut the cost of running the furnace fan by a factor of 5.3
• If your duct system has leaks or disconnected portions, you will not reap the full energy savings you could get from a high efficiency furnace. Consider having your heating contractor check the entire length of your ductwork for leaks and seal any leaks with mastic type sealant, not duct tape. It’s now possible for a contractor to perform verified duct sealing by using a special fan to test duct system leakage before and after sealing. Also have the contractor check for and repair disconnected ducts – a common problem.
• Insulate any ducts in unheated spaces to at least R-6.
• If you don’t already have one, consider purchasing a programmable thermostat and having your contractor install it along with your new furnace.

 

9. Have your Ducts Professionally Sealed to Reduce Leakage

Having a professional seal your home’s air leaks can make your home more comfortable, reduce the risk of moisture damage, improve indoor air quality and fire safety, and help to prevent frozen water pipes.  Have a qualified professional seal your home’s air leaks. Leaky houses waste energy because heated or cooled air can easily escape. Older homes tend to be leakier than newer homes. Tightening up a leaky house will reduce the heating and cooling bills. Recent advancements in air sealing technology allow specialists to go beyond the old techniques of caulking and weatherstripping around obvious places such as doors and windows. The biggest problems are usually hidden leaks in out of the way places such as attics, floors and walls, which are easily found and sealed by a specialist.Note: The annual bill savings and cost-effectiveness assume that your home’s air leakage which are easily found and sealed by a specialist.Note: The annual bill savings and cost-effectiveness assume that your home’s air leakage is reduced by 25%.

Purchasing Tips:

• To get the best results, hire a qualified contractor, preferably a “building performance contractor”, or “energy auditor” to find out where the leaks are in your home’s shell. Make sure the contractor uses a “blower door” test to find the air leaks. An infrared scan can be beneficial in addition to the blower door test. Check with your utility company; some offer no- or low-cost basic energy audits. However, the extra money you would spend to have the audit done by a home performance contractor is often well worth it.
• Make sure your contractor tests the leakage rate after completing the sealing, not only to determine the degree of improvement, but also to ensure that the ventilation in your home is adequate. If you don’t already have proper mechanical ventilation, consider installing a ventilation system. Proper home ventilation will make your home healthier and more comfortable.
• Make sure your contractor performs a combustion safety test after sealing your home’s air leaks. This test checks for backdrafting and carbon monoxide, and will help assure your home is safe.

 

Also Consider – Insulate the Perimeter Edge of Slab Foundation

A well-insulated slab foundation can make your home more comfortable, and guard against moisture problems. Apply R-5 rigid foam insulation to the exterior edge of your slab foundation. In a typical home, half or more of the energy loss is through the exterior walls, floor and roof. Proper insulation, as well as sealing air leaks in your home’s shell, is vital to reducing these energy losses.

Note: The annual bill savings and cost-effectiveness assume that you apply the R-5 foam insulation to the entire slab-edge area to a depth of two feet. The bill savings will be less if you do not upgrade the entire area, but the cost-effectiveness of upgrading less than all of the crawlspace wall area should be approximately the same as shown above. The default upgrade cost does not include the cost of excavating the foundation the excavation is assumed to occur for other reasons, such as installing drainage or landscaping.

Purchasing Tips:

• When comparing contractors’ bids, make sure they are for the same insulating value R-value to the same foundation depth.
• Address any exterior drainage problems as part of the insulation project.

 

Also Consider – Increase Attic Floor Insulation to R-38

A well-insulated ceiling can make your home more comfortable and quieter, reduce the risk of moisture damage, enhance fire safety, make your home more disaster-resistant, and help guard against pipe freezing.  Insulate your ceiling to at least R-38. In a typical home, half or more of the energy loss is through the exterior walls, floor and roof. Proper insulation, as well as sealing air leaks in your home’s shell, is vital to reducing these energy losses.

Note: Our calculations bill savings, typical upgrade costs, and cost-effectiveness assume the ceiling insulation is increased to R-38. Insulating to a higher R-value would provide additional energy savings.

Purchasing Tips:

• Make sure all holes in the attic floor are sealed before you install insulation. Make sure there is a vapor retarder between the attic floor and the insulation to help prevent excess moisture from condensing on the insulation. However, if you are adding insulation on top of pre-existing insulation, don’t install a vapor retarder, since it may trap moisture in the old insulation underneath.
• If access to the attic is limited, blown-in cellulose or fiberglass insulation is your best bet.
• Make sure the insulation does not block the attic vents, and that it is even and free of gaps.
• When comparing contractors’ bids, make sure they are for the same insulating value R-value, not just the same number of inches.
• If you are doing the installation yourself, consider using cellulose. Cellulose insulation is less expensive and has a higher R-value per inch than fiberglass, and will not irritate your skin and lungs.

 

Also Consider – Have a Professional Seal your Home’s Air Leaks

Having a professional seal your home’s air leaks can make your home more comfortable, reduce the risk of moisture damage, improve indoor air quality and fire safety, and help to prevent frozen water pipes.  Have a qualified professional seal your home’s air leaks. Leaky houses waste energy because heated or cooled air can easily escape. Older homes tend to be leakier than newer homes. Tightening up a leaky house will reduce the heating and cooling bills. Recent advancements in air sealing technology allow specialists to go beyond the old techniques of caulking and weatherstripping around obvious places such as doors and windows. The biggest problems are usually hidden leaks in out of the way places such as attics, floors and walls, which are easily found and sealed by a specialist.

Note: The annual bill savings and cost-effectiveness assume that your home’s air leakage is reduced by 25%.

Purchasing Tips:

• To get the best results, hire a qualified contractor, preferably a “building performance contractor”, or “energy auditor” to find out where the leaks are in your home’s shell. Make sure the contractor uses a “blower door” test to find the air leaks. An infrared scan can be beneficial in addition to the blower door test. Check with your utility company; some offer no- or low-cost basic energy audits. However, the extra money you would spend to have the audit done by a home performance contractor is often well worth it.
• Make sure your contractor tests the leakage rate after completing the sealing, not only to determine the degree of improvement, but make sure your contractor tests the leakage rate after completing the sealing, not only to determine the degree of improvement, but also to ensure that the ventilation in your home is adequate. If you don’t already have proper mechanical ventilation, consider installing a ventilation system. Proper home ventilation will make your home healthier and more comfortable.
• Make sure your contractor performs a combustion safety test after sealing your home’s air leaks. This test checks for backdrafting and carbon monoxide, and will help assure the safety of your home’s occupants.