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?

What many Environmentalists, Conservationists and Animal Rights Activists have in common

I seem to be meeting many environmentalists lately claiming concern for our environment caused by our excessive use of fossil fuels but on closer inspection, what one finds is a fur coat, tucked neatly in the back of their closet. 

 

It’s sheik and in vogue for one to protest excessive and flagrant consumption of energy these days but heaven forbid that same activist should give up their beautiful glass panoramic view of the world from their living room in exchange for energy efficiency. 

 

Let someone else sacrifice by doing away with such pleasantries.   Just don’t tell anyone about that full length sable coat hanging in the closet worn on special occasions where no one knows them. 

So what if tens of thousands of dollars of energy is wasted because the heat conducts out through the panoramic glass walls on a cold day, or tons of carbon dioxide emissions spew into the atmosphere from the generation of electricity needed to cool down the structure from excessive heat gain through the glass in the summer.  Let someone else sacrifice, “I like my view” too much to put heat reflective covers over the glass in order to reduce the heat gain and heat loss in the building.

 

It wasn’t too long ago that Al Gore was challenged on this very topic.  Mr Gore, for those of  you who don’t know owned a huge energy guzzling home all the while he was waving the red flag of alarm about climate change and global warming caused by carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels, and other pollutants.

 

I think the world needs fewer activists proclaiming what needs done and more people that lead by example.  So before you decide to get on the “bandwagon” or “gravy train” known as energy efficiency, take a long hard look at your own backyard and clean it up first.  Only then have you truly earned the right to tell others what they need to do. 

Energy Efficiency and the Role of Real Estate Agents

            It is ironic those same policy makers, who for years have denied the existence of an environmental and energy crisis, are now looking to a “green” revolution as the route to recovery from the economic crisis.  It would be easy to say “I told you so” to those realtors and developers who just a couple of years ago were out hawking McMansions to anyone who could get a sub prime mortgage.  However tempting it is to gloat, it is better to welcome the realtors who realize that energy efficiency is a real selling tool.

            Let's hope that realtors, builders, developers and banks use this second chance they have been given responsibly.  Just last month, the National Association of Realtors held its first “green” designation training program for its members.  On its website, the NAR urges its members to “harness the energy of the green designation” to “access new markets, build your customer base and be a positive force for change in your community.” 

            In fact, the realtor community can be an important advocacy group for energy efficiency.  Informed realtors can teach their clients what makes a home truly energy efficient; can explain the cost benefits of energy efficiency modifications; and can show home owners the bigger picture—how home energy efficiency can reduce our country's dependency on fossil fuels and its carbon footprint.

            It will be a tough balancing act for realtors, who after all depend upon commissions for their living.  It's not easy being at the forefront of change, especially when you have your own mortgage to pay!   Realtors will need to be teachers. And like all good teachers, realtors will need to be good students first.  They will need to learn what energy IN-efficiency costs us, at both the personal and global level.  And they will need to understand the elements of an energy efficient home.

            Armed with this information, realtors can now be part of the solution to our mounting energy and environmental crisis, and effect a significant change in the housing market, by using the financing tools available for energy efficient homes  Its a win, win....win situation.. 

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....