Creating an energy efficiency plan is the first step toward improving your home?s comfort and value and reducing your energy costs.
The Building Performance Institute estimates that implementing an?energy efficiency plan can potentially save you as much as 30 percent or more on your monthly utility bills. Energy efficient home improvement projects significantly improve your home?s value, potentially returning more than 150% on your investment.
But, perhaps best of all, a variety of rebates and incentives are available to reduce the cost of these projects substantially. All you?have to do to take advantage of these incentives is use an approved contractor to do the work.
Assessing Your Home?s Energy Usage & Efficiency
You can begin the process by identifying how your family?s energy use compares to other homes in your area, using?an online usage calculator like?Energy Star?s?Home Energy Yardstick or Rocky Mountain Power?s?Wattsmart program.
However, the most comprehensive way to identify those areas of your house that are wasting the most energy is to contact a Certified Energy Analyst (CEA) and schedule a home energy audit. The CEA designation is bestowed by the?Building Performance Institute and demonstrates the highest level of knowledge and expertise in evaluating?residential energy use.
CEAs use state-of-the-art technology, including thermal imaging cameras and blower doors, to identify problem areas that are costing you money ? and potentially even?degrading your home?s indoor air quality.
Identifying Energy Efficiency Plan Strategies
Once you have identified the areas of concern in and around your house, you must decide which projects are most important. Typically, homeowners choose to start with those projects that will save them the most money and best improve their home?s comfort and value.
Typically, upgrading the home?s insulation, duct sealing, air sealing, window upgrades and installing radiant barriers are on the top of Intermountain West homeowners? lists. However, your home energy audit will demonstrate clearly where your energy efficient home improvement projects should start.
Implementing Your Energy Efficiency Plan
Whether you choose to do all your home upgrades at once or spread them out over time is up to you.?But bear in mind that you won?t fully enjoy the potential cost savings until you take care of all the problem areas in your home.
Also consider that the current home improvement rebates from Rocky Mountain Power, Questar and others won?t last forever. If you act quickly, you can complete your home?s upgrades for a substantially reduced cost and begin enjoying the cost savings ? and improved comfort in your home ? immediately. You?ll also recognize a nearly instantaneous improvement in your home?s value, an important consideration if you plan to list your home for sale anytime?in the near future.
For homeowners?in?Idaho,?Utah and?Wyoming,?contact the experts at?GreenHome Specialties?for your home energy audit. Our Certified Energy Analysts will inspect your HVAC system, vents, insulation, ductwork and windows ? all at no cost to you. You can also request our advanced energy audit, which also includes blower door testing to identify those areas where air is leaking from your home. Using this information, we will help you determine which home improvement projects would most benefit you and your family.
Contact GreenHome Specialties today and let us help you get started on your energy efficiency plan.
