Targeting existing homes for energy savings will go much further to curb greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. than focusing on newer homes, panelists said Wednesday at a talk on green building during the International Builder Show here in Las Vegas. New homes, in general, are already built more efficient, but older homes can be big energy wasters.
Indeed, homes built before 1983 are to blame for 70 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions related to single-family energy consumption in California, said Mike Hodgson, president of Consol, who detailed results of a study conducted this fall for the California Homebuilding Foundation.
A $10,000 investment in retrofitting a 1960s home for energy efficiency could make a big impact: It could save 8.5 tons of carbon, Hodgson said. Meanwhile, increasing energy efficient of a new home by 35 percent over current state requirements would reduce emissions by only 1.1 tons.
Changes to older homes that are needed include replacing mechanical units that are 20 years or older, replacing water heaters that are 15 years old, and upgrades to ceiling insulation. If such energy savings measures are taken to existing homes, in 7 years, gas emissions could drop by 33 percent in California alone, Hodgson said.
Hartman said that green building is “revolutionizing everything we do with building. We’ve been doing things all wrong. We need to put a halt on how we do the insulation, energy, and caulking in a building.”
Hartman, who performs energy audits on homes, says on average he sees duct systems that leak 30 percent and sloppy building practices that haven’t focused on cutting energy costs.
He said more education is needed in the building industry and among home owners on how to retrofit homes for greater energy savings. He also said incentives need to be available from the federal government so people will make the needed changes to their older homes.
It’s easier than you think to be green
Home improvements don’t have to be epic to relieve utility costs. Here are a few ideas to start thinking green:
∙ Turn up the air conditioner thermostat.
∙ Change air filters often.
∙ Plant trees on the south and west sides of the home to provide shade and reduce interior temperatures.
∙ Landscape with drought-resistant or indigenous plants, which retain more water.
∙ Add motion sensor lights, to save electricity.
∙ Install a gas fireplace in an addition, such as a den or sunroom, which will extend heat to that room.
∙ Replace appliances with Energy Star–rated versions. Energy Star appliances exceed government energy-efficiency standards by 10 percent to 25 percent.
∙ Invest in new, more efficient heating and cooling systems.
∙ Paint your home’s exterior a light color. Darker colors retain more heat.
∙ Plug up air leaks, which are the equivalent of leaving a window open all year. Sealing leaks can save more than 10 percent on energy bills.
∙ Install double-glazed windows with low-emission glass, which allow maximum light while keeping out heat and cold.
∙ When replacing roofing, install light-colored shingles made of metal or tile to reflect heat.
∙ Add insulation in walls.
∙ If designing a new home that faces the afternoon sun, design the house with a shading porch and windows that are higher up on the wall than normal—near the overhangs—to minimize the sun’s heat. The windows will be shaded by the overhang and will allow more desirable reflected, rather than direct, light to penetrate.
The Arlington County website also has pertinent information on AIRE, Arlington Inititiative to Reduce Emissions including information on energy audits and solar energy, and options to buy green power.
Green in 10 years
In the next decade, green could become to buildings what seatbelts are to cars. “When I was a kid, seatbelts were optional,” says green architect Peter L. Pfeiffer, of Barley & Pfeiffer Architects in Austin, Texas. “Now they’re so pervasive, they’re not even an issue.”
In the future, he says, buyers will stop looking at price per square foot and consider the durability, quality, and integrity of the building, as well as how it fosters a healthier living environment, which Pfeiffer and other green proponents say are natural benefits of green building design and materials.
What’s more, homes will be more likely to support themselves using solar energy panels that enable owners to sell excess energy back to the power grid, says Karla Martin, director of marketing for McStain Neighborhoods, a green builder in Louisville, Colo.
Source: realtor.com
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