Windermere Real Estate/GH LLC
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Weathering Your House for Big Winter Savings
Closing the fireplace damper, keeping your curtains open on sunny days, and insulating your light switch covers are all good wintertime energy-conservation ideas, but the impact on your heating bill probably won’t be significant. If you really want to save big money, you need to target the big energy-wasters.
 
Looking at the biggest sources of energy loss in the average American home and how best to correct them could end up saving you hundreds of dollars every year.
 
Savings potential: 60%
Repair heating ductwork
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes with forced-air heating systems can lose as much as 60 percent of their heat through un-insulated, loose or poorly installed ductwork. That means more than half of your heat could be lost before it even reaches the register!
 
But before you start patching things up with duct tape, consider this: Duct-taped seams may be your problem. Since duct tape was introduced in the 1950s, the sticky silver rolls have developed a patch-anything reputation—and a loyal homeowner following. However, laboratory tests have proven it to be one of the worst products for its namesake project: sealing ductwork. Instead, professional heating and air-conditioning contractors use gooey mastics that are painted on and allowed to harden.
 
Savings potential: 25%
Add insulation
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, only 20 percent of homes built before 1980 are properly insulated. If your house is in the other 80 percent, then there’s another opportunity for big savings. Some experts estimate that you could save up to 25 percent on your heating costs by adding insulation to your attic and walls or upgrading what’s there now.
 
Savings potential: 25%
Replace windows
Ensuring an air-tight fit around your windows is one way to save energy. However, the real problem for most homes is the glass itself. Almost half of all homes in the U.S. feature windows with single-pane glass. And for those homes, a whopping 10 to 25 percent of all heat is lost straight through the glass.
 
Yes, replacing all your old windows with insulated, double-pane versions is an expensive proposition. But few things will impact your energy savings more. Plus, many of these new window designs are much easier to keep clean and far better at blocking out neighborhood noise.
 
If money is tight, consider replacing only the windows in the rooms you use most often and waiting until later to finish the rest. Installing storm windows is another good option.
 
Savings potential: 15%
Replace furnace
Is your furnace worth keeping another winter? Generally, if it’s more than 15 years old, or if repairs will cost more than half of what buying and installing a new one would, you’re better off replacing it.
Energy Star qualified oil and gas furnaces have annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings between 83 and 90 percent or higher, making them up to 15 percent more efficient than standard models.
 
Savings potential: 15%
Programmable thermostat
If you’re not someone who takes the time to turn the thermostat down when you go to bed or leave the house, installing a programmable thermostat can save you another 10 to 15 percent on your annual heating bill. You simply program the thermostat to lower or switch off at night or when no one is home during the day, and raise or turn on again just before people awaken or return.
 
Savings potential: 10%
Service heating system
Annual tune-ups on your heat pump, oil or gas furnace can cut six to ten percent off the cost of your heating bill. It’s a small savings, but with the cost of all heating fuels expected to keep rising, you may be able to off-set some of those increases.  

 

 Home Pricing Guide 
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Savings potential: unlimited
Energy audit
Not sure what to do? Consider an energy audit. An energy-conservation consultant will evaluate all the heating and cooling systems in your house, locate the areas where air-leaks are occurring, and recommend specific systems and strategies that will cut your heating and cooling costs.
 
Depending on where you live, the type of home you own, its condition, and your current heating and cooling systems, an energy audit has the potential to dramatically reduce your energy costs. But be warned, the services provided can vary significantly from one company to another, and the industry is unregulated (which means anyone can offer the service).
 
Whatever you decide to do, it’s a good idea to get started soon. Once the cold weather and stiff winds settle in, heating contractors will be busy again, your options may be more limited, and there’s a chance the cost of materials may spike to keep up with demand.
  

Tips
Energy Tax Credits
 
Thanks to the federal stimulus bill signed into law last year, homeowners who purchase and install select energy-efficient appliances and materials in 2011 are eligible for a 10 to 30 percent tax credit.
 
The following items are eligible for a 10 percent tax credit (up to $500), or a specific rebate of $50 to $300:
  • Biomass stove
  • Central air conditioning or a heat pump
  • Propane, oil or natural-gas furnace
  • Gas, propane or oil hot-water heater
  • Insulation and other weatherizing products
  • Asphalt and metal roofing
  • Gas, oil or propane water heater (or electric heat-pump water heater)
  • Exterior windows, doors and skylights
The following are eligible for a 30 percent tax credit:
  • Geothermal heat pump
  • Small wind turbine
  • Solar-energy system
  • Fuel cells
Most brands and models with an Energy Star label will qualify, however, not all of them do; look for the “manufacturer’s certification”. Only items purchased and installed in your principal residence before December, 2011, are eligible (new-construction and rentals do not qualify). There are also caps on the total amount of credit you can receive. For all the details, see the EnergyStar.gov website.
 

Your Cold Weather Checklist
With cold and rainy winter weather just around the corner, this is a great time to make sure your home is ready for these seasonal changes. Over the next couple of weeks, make a point to check off the following winter-weather to-dos:
  • Clean debris from roofs, especially valleys where water might become trapped.
  • Check the overall condition of your roofing (12 to 20 years is the typical life expectancy for asphalt shingles).
  • Clean all gutters and downspouts, and check for proper drainage.
  • Make sure the ends of all downspouts drain away from the foundation.
  • Have a plumbing service clear any exterior drains.
  • Remove moss from decks, patios and walkways to prevent slick surfaces.
  • Wrap exterior faucets with protective covers.
  • Check outdoor outlets and holiday wiring.
  • Disconnect hoses, drain and close sprinkler systems by November 1st.
  • Check crawl spaces for water accumulation that might cause dry-rot.
  • Clean/change furnace filters.
  • Apply weather stripping to any exterior doors that need it.
  • Wash and install storm windows.
  • Add insulation to walls or attic, if necessary.
  • Insulate any exposed pipes.
Rainwater and freezing temperatures can do a great deal of damage to an unprotected home. But if you get a jump on these checklist items now, you’ll be prepared, and able to rest easy, when clouds start to roll in and the thermometer takes a dip.