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Seven winning ideas for you |
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January 2010
Each of the grand prize winners in the Help My House contest received major energy efficiency renovations and upgrades to their homes. While you may not have the $10,000 amount that was spent in each of those homes, there are many things that you can do to improve the efficiency of your home and help save money on your electric bill. Here are seven of them:
1. Increase insulation 
The typical South Carolina home needs twice as much insulation in the attic as it actually has. At the Wise family house in Rock Hill, we increased insulation in the attic to R-30 from R-13. (R-value refers to the insulation’s effectiveness.) At a cost of $520, this extra layer of insulation has the potential to pay for itself within three to four years.
Price range: $500 to $5,000, depending on home size and type of insulation installed.
Return on investment: As much as 20 to 30 percent annual savings on heating and cooling costs.
What you should know: The most energy-efficient home is insulated top to bottom. If you can afford only to make a partial upgrade, start with the attic. typically, up to 40 percent of home heating is lost through the roof.
2. Install a programmable thermostat
We installed a programmable thermostat in Linda Butler’s home, as well as our six other winning homes, allowing owners to save energy by automatically adjusting the temperature without sacrificing comfort.
Price range: $60 to $150 (not including installation).
Return on investment: You can save 5 to 15 percent annually by turning back your thermostat 5 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day.
What you should know: Switching out your old thermostat for a programmable one is a moderate to easy do-it-yourself job but requires you know how to work with electricity safely. Make sure you understand how the programming works: if you don’t use the thermostat correctly, you won’t save.
 3. Find and fix air leaks
An energy analysis by Bennie Marshall of Carolina Green Energy Systems found Harry Hooker Jr.’s house in St. George was twice as drafty as it should be. Poorly sealed doors, windows and baseboards are a common problem in South Carolina homes. Studies by the S.C. Energy Office indicate that homes across the state waste up to 12 percent of energy due to air leaks. Marshall’s team sealed ductwork and all electrical and plumbing penetrations. They also installed a cover over the attic door to keep conditioned air from leaking into the attic.
Price range: $500 to $5,000.
What you should know: You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a big difference. Buy a tube of caulk and some weatherstripping from your local hardware store. Grab a can of spray foam and seal those openings around your plumbing.
4. Conduct an energy audit 
The Robertsons were cold in the winter, hot in the summer - and still paying a high electric bill. A home energy analysis by Kevin O’Neill uncovered missing insulation and poorly installed ductwork. The auditor also spotted an opportunity to save by installing a timer for their in-ground pool pump to automatically cycle it on and off.
Price range: $350 to $500 for a professional energy audit.
Return on investment: It’s possible to recover the cost of an audit — if you make recommended changes — in one or two power bills.
What you should know: Professional energy auditors use special techniques and equipment to conduct an in-depth assessment of your home and can uncover hard-to-find problems. You can also conduct your own audit and find opportunities to save. There’s advice on how best to do either at energysavers.gov.
 5. Save at your water heater
In the Lamb family’s Bluffton house, we installed an 85-gallon Rheem Lifetime Marathon water heater with a lifetime warranty, the most energy-efficient electric water heater available. We also installed an H2O Select off-peak switch that qualified the system for a $250 rebate from the cooperative.
Price range: $700 to $1,200 for the Rheem Marathon water heater installed; you can get up to $350 in rebates from some cooperatives.
Return on investment: water heating can account for 15 to 25 percent of your power bill. Changes can reduce that by as much as half.
What you should know: Electric, heat pump or solar — choosing the right water heater for your house depends on a number of factors and requires research. regardless of which you choose, consider adding insulation to water lines.
6. Upgrade your system 
The typical South Carolina home has a 15- to 20-year-old heating and cooling unit that on average is 40 percent less efficient than a modern HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) unit. Melissa Drummond and Eric Henking’s combination propane furnace and electric air conditioner was 20 years old and using far more energy than the average unit. Replacing her system with a Lennox split system heat pump has improved comfort and energy savings.
Price range: $4,000 to $9,000 for a typical 2,000-square-foot home.
Return on Investment: A heat pump can reduce the amount of energy you use by 30 to 40 percent. Look for higher SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) and HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor). A 15/8.5 SEER/HSPF split system is the minimum required to qualify for federal tax rebates for energy-efficiency upgrades.
What you should know: Different homes and locales require different solutions, so explore your options. Heat pumps work better in South Carolina’s moderate winters than they do in colder northern states. Proper heat pump sizing (ask about a Manual J Load calculation) is critical for the best efficiency and comfort.
 7. Repair and replace ductwork
The Runyon family in Beech Island had a new furnace, but their bills were still high. One reason was that their old ductwork was leaky. Palmetto Heating and Air installed a new return-air duct and sealed and balanced existing ductwork.
Price range: Varies with size of house and work required; for this house — $5,000.
Return on investment: Properly sealed and insulated ductwork can reduce heating and cooling use by 10 to 40 percent annually.
What you should know: Ducts provide both supply and return air and should be balanced to maintain neutral pressure within your house. Aside from sealing your ducts, one of the simplest ways to improve their efficiency is to make sure furniture, rugs and drapes are not blocking air flow.
 Click here to read more about the Help My House program |
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