Super Energy Efficiency Blog

How Much More Does it Cost to Build a Home Energy Efficiently?

Dennis and I began building energy efficient homes in the 1980’s. We understand construction math and profitability. It costs 5-10% more to build an energy efficient home than "standard" homes.

Many people pay deluxe home prices for fancy looking features but they get only paltry energy saving benefits.

When we first started building energy efficient homes in the 1980’s builders were pleased if they had $10,000 left to share with investors per home after completion, bills paid, and the home sold. Twenty years later builders aim for $100,000.

At this point, you should be wondering how much money was actually spent on the construction of your home?

Energy Crisis - Part 2

The average cost of heating a home for the winter is now
$1000-$2500, depending on the size of the structure.  However, for homes that use heating oil or propane, the winter energy bill can be nearly double the average. And there seems to be no end in sight to the rising energy costs. You may be one of lucky ones who has managed to pay this winter's heating bills. However, just how far can you stretch your budget next winter?

Now is the time to take stock of your home's energy
efficiency. A home energy audit can show you where you are losing
energy to the outside environment. In most cases, you can fix
these problems on your own. And the good news is that even basic
improvements will pay off big in savings on your home energy
costs. With monthly energy bills of a thousand dollars or more,
even a modest 30 percent savings can mean the difference between
having energy or facing shutoffs.

You can do that with our easy to use DIY Home Energy Audit
System.  For further information go to http://www.diyhomeenergyaudits.com

 

Energy Crisis - Part 1

"For nearly 16 million American families the struggle to heat
their home this winter will hit the crisis point in early summer.
According to a report on CNN's Lou Dobbs Report, 15.5 million
people are at least 30 days behind on their heating bills. While
company's are prohibited from shutting off energy in the winter
months, the advent of warm weather means many of those families
will now have their utility shut off.

The problem is no longer seen just in low income families. With
record energy prices, unemployment or underemployment, the
problem is creeping into working and middle class families. These
are people who have always paid their bills regularly and whose
heating costs are just one of the soaring costs of living.

"Going into 2008, we had expected oil prices to start easing,"
says Tancred Lidderdale, analyst for the U.S. Energy Information
Administration. But the close match between global oil supply and
demand - the tight market - means geopolitical tensions and
market worries can have a large impact on price, he says. "And
all the tightness in the market is showing up in heating oil"
when it is in peak demand, Lidderdale says.

The federal assistance program, LIHEAP, which provides funds to
states to help families pay winter heating costs, has been
serving a steadily increasing number of families since the
program began in 1980. However Congressional appropriations for
the program have not kept up with the increases in energy costs.
The 5.8 million families who receive energy grants represent only
16 percent of the families eligible for the program. To try to
stretch the limited funds,the amount of the grant awarded to each
family has decreased, leaving even these families barely able to
make it through the cold months. Many will not have enough money
to avoid having their energy cut off this summer. In those cases,
the cutoffs will affect cooking, air conditioning, and hot water.

Families who receive federal energy assistance account for only
one-third of those facing shut offs. And a large number of
families are exhausting their savings and credit lines to avoid
shuts offs. A survey by CreditCards.com found that nearly 9
percent of Americans - an estimated 20 million consumers - use
credit cards to pay heating bills this winter. However, unless
they are able to keep up with the credit card debt, that solution
may not be available next winter.

Check back for Part 2 for the continuation of Energy Crisis.

Definition of an Energy Efficient Home

The ideal energy efficient home retains the best environment for habitation while minimizing the consumption and waste of energy.

 

© Dennis Maq Crook, Energy Efficient Homes Team, 2007

How Many Miles to the Gallon Does Your Home Get?

Homes use approximately one third of all the energy we presently
consume in the U.S. The remaining two thirds are split between
transportation- one third, and industry- one third.

Over the years technological advancements made it possible for
manufacturers of central heating and air conditioning equipment
to produce units with energy efficiency ratings of 90+. For
example, a 90+ natural gas heater burns 90% or more of the
natural gas it takes in and wastes less than 10%.

Most likely the homes in the U.S.with 90+ systems installed
are in homes that would not even qualify for a 50+ energy
efficiency rating. 

Know the True Cost of Your Home Before You Buy It

Paul and Kim have been married for a year when they decide it’s time to buy their first home. They don’t know it but they are about to make the biggest mistake of their lives.

Paul manages a national car rental agency, and Kim is a bookkeeper at a local pet store. Together they earn $80,000 a year before taxes.

Neither Paul nor Kim has experience buying a home so they call a realtor first for advice. They learn they can get a mortgage that includes taxes and homeowners insurance for $1,933 a month.

It really helps Paul and Kim to know how much money they can borrow.

Solar Energy - Investment Payback and Your Home : Part 2

We left off explaining the difference between passive solar design systems and direct solar systems.   Now that we have cleared up the difference, let's continue....

4. During the design phase we made sure to place the property facing south with the widest exposure and most windows on the south side. We were fortunate to have the latitude to design and build our 4163 square foot home utilizing as many energy efficient thermal package features as possible.

The placement of windows is best left for a more in depth discussion. However, for the purposes of a passive solar energy discussion it is important to note that....

Solar Energy - Investment Payback and Your Home : Part 1

With the ever increasing cost of energy needed to run, heat and air condition a home, consumers are seeking alternative means to bring the cost of energy down, as well as ease up on the planets natural resource supply.

Solar panels, used for harvesting the sun’s natural power, are the most familiar and commonly researched alternative source for energy today. This is probably due to the idea that solar energy is free for the taking; however, the cost to collect the energy is not free.

During our latest energy efficient home project we researched the viability of adding Direct PV (photo voltaic) solar energy to the home.

This is what we learned after careful and lengthy consideration--

Electric Deregulation : Part 2

We left off with the question : why is energy regulation or deregulation  important to you, the homeowner?

Utility companies are a unique form of commodity. Electricity or gas for heating, air conditioning, and lights are life sustaining services. Unlike any other business, public utilities have a guaranteed market.

In most cases, consumers do not have a choice for there natural gas or electricity supplier. Regulation was designed to insure a fair rate structure, and reliable supply of electricity and gas. In return, the holding companies could count on a good return for their stock holders and stable business levels. And the 1935 PUHCA kept utility holding companies from using the profits they made from consumers to invest in riskier businesses.

How did PUHCA come about? After the stock market crash of 1929, many utility companies were far in debt with their other investments. When banks called in their loans, the utility companies failed. The consequences of the failures fueled the Depression.

The National Energy Policy Act of 1992 opened the electric industry to competition, which meant....

Electric Deregulation : Part 1

What would you do if you opened your utility bill next month, and there was a 25 % increase in your rate?

The truth is a lot of homeowners are getting hit with exactly that kind  of rate increase. In fact, the hidden problem in the current housing crisis is electric bills can get so high; it’s as if homeowners now have a second mortgage payment.

And there are more and bigger increases expected this year in at least fifteen states, as the deregulation of utility companies continue, rate caps come off in certain states, and the cost of oil continues to rise.

How can this happen?

The answer to that is...

Foreclosures Caused by Rising Energy Costs

Almost daily, you hear news reports about the increasing numbers of homes in foreclosure. What you don’t hear reported is how increasing energy costs are so often the cause of this devastating problem.

Are you losing your home because you can’t afford to pay your energy bills and your mortgage? If you aren’t facing foreclosure can you afford temperature settings that keep you feeling comfortable inside your home?