Energy Efficiency

Victoria AdamsStephanie CogswellDaureen LingleyEmily Werner

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency

Importance of Home Energy Efficiency

Residential energy consumption accounts for over 20% of global energy use.

In 2001, homeowners, on average, spent $1500 on energy costs.

Energy bills are usually the largest portion of housing costs after rent or mortgage payments.

In 2007, residential carbon emissions grew to 1242 million metric tons of carbon.

Increasing price of energy.

Energy EfficiencyPage 3

Energy Efficiency Topics

Energy Efficient Mortgages

Designing & Remodeling

Incentives & Rebates

Appliances & Home Electronics

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Energy Efficiency

What is an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM)?

A mortgage that credits a home's energy efficiency in the home loan.

Let you borrow extra money to pay for energy efficient upgrades to your current home or a new or old home that you plan to buy.

EEMs recognize that reduced utility expenses can permit a homeowner to pay a higher mortgage to cover the cost of the energy improvements on top of the approved mortgage.

Energy Efficiency

History

In 1992, Congress mandated a pilot demonstration of Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) in five states under Section 513 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992.

In 1994, the pilot was expanded to ten states. In 1995, the pilot was expanded as a national program. Green Energy Act of 2008

• Section 9• Section 8• Section 25

Energy Efficiency

Types of EEMs

Conventional EEM• Most powerful of the EEMs• Borrow up to 15% of the home’s appraised value for

improvements.

FHA EEM: • Not as powerful as the conventional EEM. • Borrow up to 5 % of your home’s value (though not more than

$8,000) or $4,000, whichever is greater

VA EEM: • Past and present military personnel• Allows you to spend up to $6,000 for energy efficient upgrades • Regardless of the value of the home.

Energy Efficiency

How EEMs Work

Backed by private and government mortgage programs No additional down payment. In most cases you already qualify for an EEM. Funded by a lending institution, such as a mortgage

company, bank, or savings and loan association Aren’t second mortgages, rolled into primary

mortgage.

Energy Efficiency

Home Energy Rating System (HERS)

Overall rating index of the house as it is.• Blower door test• Manometer

Recommended cost-effective energy upgrades Estimates of the cost, annual savings, and useful life of

upgrades Improved rating index after the installation of

recommended upgrades Rating index is between 1 and 100. usually costs between $300- $800.

Energy Efficiency

Efficiency

double paned windows tankless water heaters New HVAC units with air ducts new insulation Weatherizing energy efficient heating and cooling systems fixing or replacing a chimney installing active and passive solar technologies

Energy Efficiency

What are the benefits?

Increases Purchasing Power• An average of 6.8% more families would be able to qualify for a mortgage through an

energy efficient mortgage. • Stretch debt-to-income qualifying rations on loans

Reduce carbon footprint Increases Market Value of Homes

• The market value of a home increases $20 for every $1 decrease in the annual energy costs.

• An estimated increased home market value of between $4,250 to $10,625.

Comfort• Cooler in the summer• Warmer in the winter

Savings• Save money every month from day one • Gas prices are rising• building a home to exceed the Model Energy Code would result in an annual savings

of $170 to $425.

Energy Efficiency

Who benefits?

Buyers• Qualify for a larger loan on a better home• Save money every month from day one• An average of 6.8% more families would be able to qualify• Stretch debt-to-income qualifying rations on loans

Sellers• Sell your home more quickly• Make your house affordable• Increase the resale value

Remodelers/refinancers• Get EEM benefits without moving• Make improvements which will actually save you money

Energy Efficiency

Statistics – EEMs lower your carbon footprint!

Heating and cooling account for 50–70%. 60% not properly insulated. In houses with central air and heating, about 20% of the

air is lost due to faulty, outdated duct work. Updating your home’s insulation can save you up to 20%

on heating and cooling costs or up to 10% of your total yearly energy bill.

Energy Efficiency

…Statistics – EEMs lower your carbon footprint!

Energy loss from outdated windows accounts for nearly 25% of the annual heating and cooling costs for the average American home.

Even the most basic double-paned window can reduce energy use by up to 24% in cold climates during the winter and by up to 18% in hot climates during the summer.

Programmable thermostats can save about 2% on heating bills and more than 3% on cooling bills. These numbers can translate into savings of up to $180 a year.


Designing & Remodeling a Home

Advanced Framing Cool Roofs Earth-Sheltered Homes Passive Solar Homes Straw Bale Homes Ultra-Efficient Homes Whole-House Design


Advanced House Framing Techniques

Optimum Valve Engineering

Materials cost savings of about $500 or $1000 (for a 1,200- and 2,400-square-foot house, respectively)

Labor cost savings of between 3% and 5%

Annual heating and cooling cost savings of up to 5%.


Cool Roofs

Benefits of Cool Roofs Reduce energy bills by decreasing

air condition needs Improve indoor comfort for spaces

that are not air conditioned Decrease roof operating

temperature, which may extend roof service life.

Reduce local air temperatures Lower peak electricity demand Reduce power plant emissions


Earth-Sheltered Home Design

Two types

Underground Design Atrium or Courtyard Design

Bermed Design Elevational Design Penetrational Design


How Passive Solar Home Design Works

Conduction Convection Radiation Thermal Capacitance

Heat Movement Mechanisms


Passive Solar Home Design

Five Elements of Passive Solar Home

Aperture (Collector) Absorber Thermal Mass Distribution Control


Passive Solar Home Energy Rankings

The TerraPass Footprint – www.terrapass.com


Passive Solar Home Thermogram


Elements of Your Home Appliances & Home

Electronics Insulation and air sealing Lighting and daylighting Space and cooling Water Heating Windows, doors & skylights

Whole House Design Systems Approach


Climate-specific design Passive solar heating and cooling Energy-efficient construction Energy-efficient appliances and

lighting Solar water heating system Small solar electric system.

Design Features

Ultra-Efficient Homes


Improved comfort — an energy-efficient building envelope reduces temperature fluctuations

Reliability — an ultra-efficient home can be designed to continue functioning even during blackouts

Energy security — a home that produces energy protects its owner from fluctuations in energy prices

Environmental sustainability — an ultra-efficient home saves energy and reduces pollution

Advantages

Ultra-Efficient Homes

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency Rebates

Created by the government and most are carried out by the utilities

Mass Save Energy Star Products

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency Rebates

The two utilities in the Boston Area who offer rebates are National Grid and NStar

Rebates can apply to:• Lighting and appliances• Income eligible programs• Heating and cooling• Building a house or addition, Retrofits• Programs for multi-family home owners

Energy Efficiency

Lighting and Appliance Rebates

A $50 rebate for purchasing an eligible EnergyStar refrigerator or freezer

The utility company will pay you $50 to come pick up your second fridge or freezer!

Order a Smartstrip by Dec 31st and get a $10 rebate and free shipping

Energy Efficiency

Heating and Cooling Rebate Terms

Energy Factor• Water Heater Efficiency

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) Rating• Overall efficiency rating

in a typical application over 1 year

Electronic Commutated Motor (ECM)• Used with HVAC systems

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Energy Efficiency

Heating and Cooling Rebates

$400 rebate for a natural gas warm air furnace with an electronic commutated motor (ECM) an an AFUE Rating greater or equal to 92 percent.

$300 for customers replacing an existing oil/propane fire tankless or freestanding hot water heater with an indirect fired water heater

$25 toward the purchase and installation of an EnergyStar qualified or seven day thermostat that controls an oil or propane fired heating system

75% off up to $2000 towards insulation upgrades

$100 rebate for an Energy Star-rated storage water heater with an Energy Factor greater or equal to .67.

$500 for qualifying condensing water heaters

$400 for qualifying indirect water heaters

Upon installation of an add on outdoor boiler, a reset control attached to your existing forced hot water boiler means you will qualify for a $200 rebate from National Grid.

Energy Efficiency

Heating and Cooling Rebates cont.

Receive up to $1,600 after you install a combined high efficiency boiler and water heating unit with the right AFUE rating

Up to $1,500 for a natural gas hot water boiler with the right AFUE rating

Up to $800 rebate for a natural gas warm air furnace with an electronic commutated motor (ECM)

$800 rebate for an on-demand water heater with an Energy Factor greater or equal to .95 with an electronic ignition.

Up to $800 for qualifying on-demand tankless water heaters

Energy Efficiency

Heating and Cooling Rebates

Mail in rebates of up to $500 for purchase and installation of high efficiency central air conditioning units

Up to $500 towards purchase of a new high efficiency oil or propane fired heating system

$500 Rebate for a heat recovery ventilator. $500 rebate for a natural gas hot water

boiler with an AFUE Rating greater or equal to 85 percent.

$500 rebate for a condensing natural gas water heater with a thermal efficiency of 94 percent or greater.

$500 rebate for an on-demand water heater with an Energy Factor greater or equal to .82 with electronic ignition.

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Energy Efficiency

Deep Energy Retrofit

National Grid Pilot Program for gas and electric customers in MA and RI

Max Incentive for an above average sized single family building is $42,000

Candidates must be able to make their own significant financial investment and only a limited number of projects are accepted.

Costs after incentives for accepted candidates will be $35-60,000

Candidates must team up with a contractor or designer with relevant experience to identify and propose deep retrofit projects

Must be a National Grid customer who heats with natural gas for 1-4 unit buildings, heat with electricity for 5+ unit buildings

“The objective is to enhance the building envelope, increase the home’s energy efficiency, and decrease the costs associated with heating and cooling the home.”

Energy Efficiency

Appliances and Home Electronics

20% of household energy bills come from appliances and electronics such as:• Clothes washers and dryers• Computers• Dishwashers• Audio equipment• Refrigerators and freezers• Air conditioners• Televisions and DVD players• Water heaters

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Energy Efficiency

ENERGY STAR

Government-backed symbol (EPA & DOE) Easy to identify and purchase energy-efficient products Save on energy bills without sacrificing on performance

or features (2010 saved $18 billion on utility bills, GHG emissions equivalent from 33 million cars)

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If product costs more than non-efficient competitors, investors can recover investment in a reasonable amount of time

Energy Efficiency

Using ENERGY STAR

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Appliance SavingsRefrigerator $165 (lifetime)

Clothes Washer

$135 (annually)Fill 3 swimming pools (lifetime)

Computer $88 (lifetime)

Dishwasher $40 (annually)3 loads of laundry (weekly)

Energy Efficiency

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $300 million Rebates towards new ENERGY STAR qualified appliances MA allocated $6,235,000 to 39,000 residents in 3 hours on April 22, 2010 December 31, 2010: $207 million was distributed to 1.4 million customers.

This equates to annual energy savings of 1.4 trillion Btu Program still open in 22 states

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Energy Efficiency

ENERGY STAR Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

Pay for themselves in about 6 months

Designed to last 6,000 hours (more than 5 years based on typical use)

Average household has 30 bulbs

30 x $30 savings= $900 total savings

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Energy Efficiency

ENERGY STAR Light Bulbs: Something to think about…

If every American home replaced 1 old light bulb with new 1 ENERGY STAR light bulb…• Save enough energy to power 3 million homes for a year• $600 million in annual energy costs• Prevent greenhouse gas emissions of equivalent of 800,000

cars

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Any Questions?

Energy Efficiency

www.flaseref.org/SunBuilt_Presentation.ppt

www.kingslandgeorgia.com/images/pages/N87//energy%20efficiency%20logo.jpg

www.energysavers.gov/

http://interi0r-design.net/decorate/2010/12/02/ideas-how-to-build-beautiful-log-home/

www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/E/AE_earth-sheltered_house.html

http://www.myenergytips.com/Article.aspx?articleID=524&userID=4446710

http://masssave.com/residential/

https://www.powerofaction.com/

http://nstar.com/residential/

http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13000

"Stretch mortgage dollars with energy efficiency." Consumers' Research Magazine 76.3 (1993): 29. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 23 Apr. 2011.

Knoblauch, Jessica A. “Money Matters – Flex Your Mortgage: Energy Efficient Mortgages Expand Your Green Options.” Green Living. July/August 2009

Gerarden, Todd. “Rebuilding Mortgages for Energy Efficiency” Federation of American Scientists (FAS)

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/recovery/pdfs/seearp.pdf

http://www.acoverstock.com/what-is-afue-rating

http://www.energysavers.gov/financial/rebates/state_MA.cfm

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=RF

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_how_earn

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_savings

http://highperformancehvac.com/hvac-technical-information/146-hvac-ecm-blower-motors-electronically-commutated-motor

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References:

Documents

Energy Efficiency