Q - What does it mean when someone says “my home is energy efficient?”:
A - It means that the home is functioning properly and not wasting energy. An energy efficient home includes features such as effective insulation, airtight construction and ductwork, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, combustion appliance safety, interior moisture management, pressure balancing, fresh air ventilation, high performance windows, and independent testing. Energy efficient homes are generally more comfortable, healthier, and more durable, with fewer drafts, better indoor air quality, and more consistent temperature levels. Along with these benefits, energy efficient homes have consistently lower energy bills than that of standard homes.
Q - What is a home energy audit?:
A - A home energy audit is an analysis on how your home is performing. You can perform a simple home energy audit yourself or you can hire a professional like E3 Energy to do a thorough audit on your home. Hiring a professional is a good idea because you will receive a comprehensive analysis and specific recommendations for improving the efficiency of your home. You will also learn how some fixes can be do-it-yourself. Energy professionals use equipment such as blower doors to measure the leaks in the home envelope, and infrared cameras to find the hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation. They also perform safety tests to determine the amount of carbon monoxide emanating from household appliances, moisture tests to see if there is any occurrence of mold, and indoor air quality tests to measure the rate of fresh air exchange in the home. With much of our time spent indoors, it is extremely important to have a healthy, well-functioning home.
Q - Why do I need to make my home more energy efficient?:
A - Making your home more energy efficient can improve comfort and indoor air quality while reducing your utility bills and protecting the environment. Much of the energy we use is wasted because of poor construction such as improperly installed insulation, leaky ductwork, cracks in the home’s envelope, and inefficient cooling and heating systems. Poor construction leads to drafts, moisture issues, dust, pollen, pests, noise, and high energy bills.
Q - How much impact are our homes really having on the environment?:
A - Our homes are having a significant impact on the environment. Most of the energy we use in our homes comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. The average home produces four times the emissions as driving one car 15,000 miles a year. Fixing our homes can greatly reduce our impact on the environment!
Q - Why buy an ENERGY STAR home?:
A - Buying an ENERGY STAR home is a smart investment! ENERGY STAR homes are certified by professionals to meet or exceed strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR homes use significantly less energy than a standard home, meaning energy bills can be significantly lower. With ENERGY STAR high performance features you can expect to have a comfortable, healthy, and durable home with fewer drafts, better indoor air quality, and more consistent temperature levels. In addition, ENERGY STAR homes typically have higher resale values. Not only is an ENERGY STAR home smart for you, it is also smart for the environment. ENERGY STAR homes reduce air pollution and the effects of global climate change, and help to preserve our nation’s natural resources.
Q - Are there simple things that I can do at home to go green?:
A - Yes! You can start with the little things such as turning off your computer, turning off the lights, switching to energy efficient light bulbs, recycling, composting, riding your bicycle, buying organic food, using your heating or cooling system less, buying a programmable thermostat, etc. Just do a search on the internet for going green, you will find a number of ways that you can help out at home! If you want to do even more, the greatest way to make an impact and “go green” is to make your home more energy efficient!
Q - What can I do beyond ENERGY STAR to make my home more green?:
A - With all the advancements in green technology today, there are numerous options to making your home “green”. Solar power, wind power, and grey water systems are just some of the options. Even the small stuff, like cleaning products that are safe for the environment, can make a big difference.
Q - Can I really save money in the long run if I make my home more energy efficient?:
A - Yes!! ENERGY STAR homes use significantly less energy than a standard home! Many ENERGY STAR homeowners see energy bills that are 30% lower than their neighbors. By hiring an energy professional like E3 Energy you can receive guaranteed energy saving recommendations.
Q - Can some fixes be done myself?:
A - Yes, you can go to the ENERGY STAR website and look under home energy audit and learn how to perform some fixes yourself. You can also hire a professional to show you how you can make your home more energy efficient.
Q - Should I be concerned about the health of my home?:
A - It is possible that your home may be causing you some health problems. Your home may have moisture issues going on that if not taken care of could become serious, for example, mold. Many issues occur behind the walls. You will need to hire professional to come in and diagnose your home.
Q - I see the ENERGY STAR label on a lot of products, but what is ENERGY STAR?:
A - ENERGY STAR is the government backed symbol for energy efficiency. Products include lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans, and appliances, such as washing machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers.
Q - Should I change my current light bulbs to the new energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Lights?:
A - Yes, because Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs use about 75% less energy than regular light bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, produce about 75% less heat, and save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb’s lifetime. If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars. CFLs are also available for indoor and outdoor lighting in all kinds of styles. Go to the ENERGY STAR website to see what is available and learn more!
Q - What are the major concerns associated with CFLs?:
A - Mercury is one concern, but the amount of mercury in the bulbs is a very minimal risk, and if a bulb breaks, can be very easily cleaned up at home. One CFL contains a hundred times less mercury than is found in a single old-style glass thermometer, according to the U.S. EPA. While the mercury doesn’t make CFLs unsafe, if broken they should be disposed of in the proper way. You can go to the ENERGY STAR website to learn more about CFL disposal and find out if a disposal service is available in your area. Another concern with CFLs is lighting. There are number of bulbs available in different lighting styles. You just need to choose the one best for you!