Home energy audits could save energy, money from leaking though the cracks

(March 6, 2009) Winter's cold air can enter homes through very small openings, adding considerable expense to the cost of heating. Summer's hot air enters the same way, adding expense to the cost of cooling.

Both issues can be solved by sealing a house tightly, to keep the cold air out in the winter and the hot air out in the summer.

Because of the high cost of energy, homeowners, condominium owners and business owners are increasingly interested in getting energy audits. These audits assess how much energy the home uses and evaluate what measures can be taken to improve efficiency.

But having the audit done is not enough to save money. The homeowner must follow through with the recommended improvements, the home retrofits, to see reductions in energy usage and energy bills.

Professional home energy auditors use a variety of techniques and equipment to determine energy efficiency. Contractors trained with Home Performance with Energy Star are recommended. One of those, Allen Luzak of Harbeson, Del., has performed about 4,000 energy audits.

Taking steps to improve energy efficiency, Luzak said, is the most economical and cost effective measure for fast, short-term return on an investment. A home retrofit can save 25 percent on energy bills, or as Luzak says, "can turn leaks into dollars and cents."

Luzak uses blower doors and infrared equipment as part of a flow analysis when he performs energy audits.

Ductwork in attics is a big problem in many houses, and even the insulation in an attic will not stop air movement. Luzak seals attics, including the wood beams, with insulating foam. Windows, often considered to be problematic, are in fact not a primary problem for leakage, Luzak said.

Vented crawlspaces, he said, are another problem. He seals them completely to prevent mold.

During his energy audits, Luzak often sees improper insulation, gaps between floors and walls, openings unnecessarily large for pipes and other construction gaffes that need fixing.

"The stuff I see and hear is atrocious," said Luzak, who now teaches an energy audit course at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown, Del., so others may learn how to perform energy audits.

Mike Labesky, a licensed home improvement contractor in Snow Hill and owner of Cypress Group Ltd., was recently was certified with Home Performance with Energy Star because he saw a need for the work and because he is "highly interested in sustainable resources," he said.

A former builder of new houses in Colorado, Labesky says it is now irresponsible to keep building new houses because of a housing surplus and because it is feasible to improve old houses.

Instead of letting older residences deteriorate, "we can tighten them up," with insulation and other features, he said.

In his work, Labesky often sees a lack of insulation and therefore, wasted energy. But he can remedy the situation. Having the energy audit and then following through on the needed improvements "is the cheapest way to lower the need for oil and other fossil fuels," Labesky said. "Although there is an initial outlay of money, energy upgrades always pay for themselves."

Homeowners might have different motivations for having energy audits, but the most common reason is to save money on energy bills.

Labesky encourages homeowners to watch him as he works.

"I encourage homeowners to be present and involved," Labesky said.

Labesky mounts a blower door at the front door and then uses it to depressurize the house and create a vacuum inside. Then he and the homeowner can walk around and feel the air coming back into the house through spaces that should be sealed

"People are amazed at how much air is coming in," Labesky said.

The federal stimulus package includes $38 billion for energy efficiency, he said, and there are also state funding sources. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development oversees the Assisted Weatherization Program. People making less than $65,000 per years are eligible for grants up to $5,000, and the federal government has increased the allowable tax deduction on qualified energy efficiency upgrades from $500 to $1,500.

Homeowners may seek information online about ways to save money on energy. Delmarva Power customers may sign up for "My Account," the company's online energy audit tool at www.delmarva. com. Choptank Electric Cooperative members may find energy saving information at www.choptankelectric.com.

Homeowners may also obtain information about saving energy and how to perform simple energy audits by going to www.energystar.gov. The online audit will compare a household's energy use to others throughout the country and make recommendations for improvements.