248 736 1898
Come visit Go Green Energy Consulting and learn about living green at the first ever Ferndale Live Green Fair, September 17-19, 2010. The event will tack onto the annual “Funky Ferndale Art Fair,” which typically draws about 20,000 people. Come learn about everything from green homes to green cars and food.
Ferndale Live Green Fair
September 17-19, 2010
Nine Mile at Woodward Avenue
Learn more at www.livegreenfair.com.
Contact Bart Loeb at Bart@LiveGreenFair.com with questions about the event.
Pop music sensation Mike Posner stopped in Detroit Friday night to perform as part of the larger “Warped Tour” held outside of Comerica Park. Born and raised in Southfield, Posner attended high school with Go Green EC founders Jacob Smith and Adam Duke.
“Back then he was recording music in his mom’s basement,” says Smith. “I used to go there almost every day my senior year just to hang out and watch him work. Now he’s headlining shows across the country! It’s wild!”
Posner is quick to acknowledge the support of his long-time friends turned entrepreneurs. “Adam and Jacob have supported my music from the very beginning,” explains Posner. “I love what they are doing with Go Green Energy Consulting. Just wait, they’re about to be the rockstars of home energy auditing!”
Smith and Duke will be “performing” a home energy audit on Posner’s parents’ home in a few weeks.
“I remember the basement being really warm, but I don’t think it was an energy issue” jokes Smith, “I think Mike was just spitting hot fire!”
The gaps you can find around the windows and doors of the average American house add up to the equivalent of a hole in the wall that measures 10 inches by 10 inches.
Your house has more leaks than the CIA. There are cracks all over the place. Your doors and windows don’t quite meet their frames; there are tiny spaces where the walls almost join the floor; there are open areas around your electrical and plumbing outlets. And these little gaps eat energy. In fact, an amazing amount of heat in the winter – or cool air in the summer – escapes through them. But you have two simple weapons to fight with: caulking and weatherstripping.
Energy Facts
Caulking vs. Weatherstripping
Leak Patrol
On Wednesday I was interviewed for my involvement with Tremaine Phillips’ TogetherGreen Project in Lansing, Michigan. Look for the footage on www.togethergreen.org soon!
The interview was about my experience with the East Lansing Residential Weatherization Pilot Program (RWPP), a grant-funded program that ran this past January. The RWPP was aimed at showing East Lansing homeowners how to reduce home energy consumption in order to lower energy bills. A team of trained group leaders helped ten families install do-it-yourself home weatherization kits, demonstrating the ease with which homeowners can implement similar changes all over the city.
To help facilitate the program, Phillips reached out to a select group of community volunteers who shared his own passion and knowledge about energy efficiency to act as group leaders.
“I was delighted to help out Tremaine with the program, basic weatherization upgrades are an easy, cost-effective way to cut our energy use and save Lansing homeowners money on their utility bills.”
Inspired by this very notion as a senior at MSU, Duke co-founded Go Green Energy Consulting, a home energy improvement company based in Lansing. As a group leader for the RWPP, he shared his knowledge and experience working with home energy efficiency. He now runs Go Green EC full time, performing home energy audits and weatherization upgrades all over Southern Michigan.
“A majority of the feedback we’ve received has been very positive,” said Phillips. “Adam and the rest of the team did an excellent job and we look forward to reshaping Michigan’s energy future.”
About TogetherGreen:
TogetherGreen is an Audubon program funded by Toyota that “aims to provide inspiration, leadership and opportunities that inspire people everywhere to take action at home, in their communities and beyond to improve the health of our environment.” For more information, visit www.togethergreen.org.
The White House will lead a new charge for electric vehicle (EV) technology starting this week. President Obama will visit a new advanced battery plant in Holland, MI, while administration officials will visit seven other EV and advanced battery plants. Each of the chosen sites were funded by the $2.4 billion in Recovery Act money designated for EV and advance battery manufacturing. The Holland-based Compact Power Inc. factory will produce lithium-ion batteries for the Chevy Volt and the Ford Focus Electric. The company received $151 million in federal stimulus to open the $303 million plant. The factory is expected to employ about 450 people by 2013.
Chevy Volt
Check out our feature in the Detroit Free Press
-Adam
Adam Duke of Waterford and Jacob Smith of West Bloomfield and recent college graduates are the founders and owners of Go Green Energy Consulting. Smith demonstrates how to identify heat loss using a thermal imaging camera. Their company is a home energy consulting business based in Lansing. Their objective is to reduce the customers’ energy bills by showing them where and how to upgrade their homes to be more energy efficient. Their website is: www.GoGreenEC.com (REGINA H. BOONE/DFP)
For more information from the event and full story click the link http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=C4&Date=20100625&Category=GREEN01&ArtNo=6250811&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=10
June 29, 2010
Here’s a visceral way to represent potential energy savings in the built environment:
Home energy waste vs. Gulf oil spill
If only the Senate had some sort of legislative strategy that could put this information to use … oh, wait, it does! Home Star legislation will spur the retrofit of 3.3 million homes, enough to save the energy floating in the Gulf 44 times over, at roughly 1/40 the cost of mopping it up. As we speak, that legislation is languishing in the Senate. If its energy efficiency provisions are improved, the coming Senate energy bill could save even more energy and money. Perhaps senators could spend less time rending garments and encouraging Obama to Act Angry and more time passing the energy solutions sitting in front of them.
——
Here’s Energy Savvy’s explanation of the graphic:
* The energy contained in the biggest oil spill in U.S. history is equal to the energy that just 75,000 homes waste in a single year.
* The estimated cost to clean up the oil spill ($40 B) is many times greater than the cost to retrofit 75,000 houses ($1 B) and save the energy equivalent of the gulf oil spill every year.
* 75,000 houses = mid-sized U.S. city or large suburb of a major city, like Chattanooga, Tenn. or Providence, R.I.
* The oil spill, since it began in April 2010, has leaked between 25 – 50 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. We’re using a conservative estimate of around 30 million gallons for our calculations.
* A typical house wastes 30 percent more energy than an efficient one does. On average, that means that 51 MMBtu’s are being wasted by a typical home every year.
* A typical home energy retrofit costs around $10,000 per house — before any utility or governments energy rebates are applied. A home energy retrofit doesn’t just save energy for a single year — it prevents waste year after year on an ongoing basis once it’s done.
http://blog.recurve.com/retrofitting-75000-houses-would-save-as-much-energy-as-in-the-gulf-spill
Michigan Appliance Rebate program still has incentives available, but dollars are limited. To date, 49% of the program funds for refrigerators, clothes washers, and dishwashers have been spent, with approximately 50,000 rebates being issued to Michigan residents. The furnaces and water heaters program has spent approximately 5%, with approximately 150 rebates being issued to Michigan residents. DOE has recently approved a rebate increase for this portion of the program. Rebate levels have increased for the following products: 1) Propane Furnaces—increase to $500, 2) Propane Water Heaters—increase to $300, 3) Oil Furnaces—increase to $500, and 4) Solar Water Heaters—increase to 25%, maximum of $2,500. Residents who already received a rebate will get an additional amount to raise them to the new levels. www.mirebates.com & www.michrebate.com
Governor Granholm has announced that the state of Michigan has achieved a 22% reduction in energy use at state facilities throughout Michigan during the last fiscal year compared to fiscal year 2002. If this reduction had not been achieved, the state would have paid an additional $30 million last year. Since the Governor took office, the state has achieved a total utility cost avoidance of $89.9 million. Energy Use Reduction Coordinators representing each agency meet regularly to exchange ideas, gather information, and provide updates on their progress.
Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing grants and loans will go to 9 small Michigan manufacturers. Governor Granholm announced that the manufacturers will share $20 million funded by the federal Recovery Act. One of the companies is Great Lakes Industry in Jackson which will convert its existing gear manufacturing operations to meet the growing demand for precision gear boxes needed in large wind turbines. Another company is Ventower Industries, which recently broke ground for its new facility in Monroe. Ventower will build the structural steel towers that are used to support commercial-sized wind turbines. A third company, URV USA in Rochester will establish a foundry to produce high-quality castings for the wind industry. http://www.michigan.gov/gov/
DTE Energy has introduced a new 100 home, 6 month program to promote whole home energy savings for residential combo customers in Southeast Michigan with both MichCon gas and Detroit Edison electricity. To deliver the Whole Home Performance Program, DTE Energy has teamed up with WellHome (a Masco company), and Michigan SAVES to promote, incentivize, and deliver comprehensive home energy retrofits. The
Michigan Uniform Energy Code Public Hearing will be held on July 20, 9:00 AM in the MSP Auditorium, Michigan State Police Training Academy, 7426 N. Canal Rd., Dimondale. The MUEC rules are proposed to be effective 120 days after filing with the Secretary of State. The proposed energy residential rules will adopt the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code with Michigan amendments. The proposed energy commercial rules will adopt the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007. Oral or written comments may be presented in person at the hearing or must be received in writing no later than 5:00 PM on July 20. http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-10575—,00.html
Michigan Energy Appraisal: Summer 2010 from the MPSC indicates that Michigan’s total electric sales are projected to increase by 2.1% in 2010, following a 6.7% decrease in 2009. Impacted by the recession, sales in 2009 were the lowest seen since 1997 with declines in all sectors: residential, commercial, and industrial. Part of last year’s decline can be attributed to the cooler than normal summer, which saw cooling degree days 35% below normal. Even with the projected moderate increase in 2010, sales will only approach a return to their 1998 levels. http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/reports/energy/10summer/index.htm
Southeast Michigan Resource Conservation & Development Council is offering a $62,600 grant to one institution to fund the retrofit or replacement of an existing boiler to accommodate wood fuel. Boiler systems in the range of 500,000 to 4 million BTU/hour are targeted. A matching requirement of at least 1:1.5 (or $93,900) is required. Funding preference will be given to facilities with high public demonstration potential within the Southeast Michigan RC&D Council area (Lenawee, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties). All project proposals must be submitted by July 26. http://semircd.org/ash/news/woodenergyRFP0610.pdf
Harlan Byker and his company, Pleotint LLC, have worked for 12 years to develop a window film that reacts to sunlight. Sandwiched between two panes of glass, the film darkens on hot, sunny days, keeping out heat, and goes transparent on cloudy days to let in available sunlight to heat the interior. Sunlight Responsive Thermochromic film got a boost this week with a $402,457 federal grant that will be used for independent research to determine the effectiveness of the film on sunlight control. A year-long test of the window film product is planned at the Iowa Energy Center. A 2006 study by GMB Architecture + Engineering, of Holland, found that the product can provide between 17-30% in energy cost savings.
University of Michigan Team has won the American Solar Challenge for a third consecutive North American title. The week-long, biennial 1,100-mile competition for solar-powered vehicles started in Broken Arrow, Okla., on June 20 and ended in Naperville, Ill., on June 26. The UM car was the first of 13 to cross the finish line for a final time of 28 hours, 14 minutes and 44 seconds. This is the sixth North American title
for UM, which won the inaugural event in 1990 with its first car, the Sunrunner. Infinium is believed to be the university’s fastest solar car ever. It reached 100 mph in testing. http://solarcar.engin.umich.edu/
Dow Corning has been awarded $1.2 million from DOE to develop an insulating façade system for commercial buildings. The funding will assist Dow Corning in the development of a silicon-based high-efficiency building insulation system which could be used in retro-fit and new construction applications. The insulation project is focused on achieving R-40 or greater for exterior insulation and finish systems.
1.26 kW PV roof-integrated system has been installed on my house. I needed a new roof and Consumers Energy $.65/kWh Experimental Advanced Renewable Program (EARP) incentive certainly helped. Unfortunately that “feed-in-tariff” program is completely full right now. PV Watts software program estimates I should get 1440 kWh’s per year or about 20% of my electric needs. So far, I’m averaging 4.8 kWh’s per day. If you want to see the type of PV system, go to www.lumaresources.com.
GreenRoad attempts to change drivers’ fuel-wasting ways by giving them constant feedback – a little black box — and by sending them weekly emails that analyze their driving and offer tips. The box has three lights and when the car’s driver makes a fuel-wasting or dangerous move, such as making fast, sharp turns or weaving through traffic — the LEDs go from green to yellow to red. The GreenRoad system has been installed in more than 80 corporate fleets since 2008. Some clients have seen accident rates halved and fuel savings of 5 to 10%.
Underwater Power Generation Concept is the top winner of Motivate Michigan, a corporate-sponsored collegiate competition to generate ideas to improve Michigan’s economy. UM students Tarun Koshy and Nicholas Williams presented “Thunder From Down Under,” a proposal to install underwater turbines in all the major lakes and rivers of Michigan. They also presented the technology of a UM spinoff called Vivace Power that uses a property of moving water called vortex induced vibration to make tubes move up and down in a frame, generating power. The first place proposal won $20,000 in scholarship money. More than 300 ideas were received from virtually every university in the state. www.motivatemichigan.org
Pulte Homes, the nation’s largest homebuilder, is expanding its offering of solar power in its new home communities. Bloomfield Hills-based Pulte Group says its renewable energy strategy is unique, in that its solar offerings span the homebuilder’s diverse brand portfolio: from first-time buyers to move-up buyers to those in 55+ active adult communities.
University of Michigan has adopted LEED Silver certification as its standard for major new construction projects. The new policy builds upon an existing UM commitment to exceed by 30% ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007, giving the university one of the most rigorous collegiate construction standards in the nation. UM buildings that have already achieved LEED certification include the Gold LEED Dana Building, home of the School of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Silver LEED Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
GenShocks, can use the kinetic energy of bounces to generate watts, putting the electricity to use running a vehicle’s windshield wipers, fans or dashboard lights. The company making the devices indicate they can lower fuel consumption by 1-6% depending on the vehicle and road conditions. GenShocks are projected to be on the market in the second quarter of 2011. http://www.levantpower.com/.
DTE Music Theatre lawn seats won’t be the only thing that’s green this summer during the 2010 concert series. DTE Energy will pair up with its GreenCurrents program to provide the amphitheater with 100% renewable energy throughout the concert series. This is the third year that the Palace Sports & Entertainment will use 100% “green” energy.
East Michigan Chapter of AEE has been successful in getting the AEE to bring the CEM 5 day course to Michigan this fall. The CEM course and exam will be held at Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit on October 25–29. Space is limited, please sign up immediately! https://www.aeeprograms.com/seminars/calendar.htm
Energy Tidbits is free and is prepared by John Sarver, Michigan Dept. of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth.
To subscribe, contact sarverj@michigan.gov. Previous copies can be found at www.michigan.gov/energyoffice under Publications.
The furnaces and water heaters program has spent approximately 5%, with approximately 150 rebates being issued to Michigan residents. Department of Energy has recently approved a rebate increase for this portion of the program. Rebate levels have increased for the following products: 1) Propane Furnaces—increase to $500, 2) Propane Water Heaters—increase to $300, 3) Oil Furnaces—increase to $500, and 4) Solar Water Heaters—increase to 25%, maximum of $2,500. Residents who already received a rebate will get an additional amount to raise them to the new levels. www.mirebates.com & www.michrebate.com
Written by Houston Neal of Software Advice. Originally featured at: Cash for Caulkers – The Definitive Guide To The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010
Houston Neil
Cash for Caulkers” is nearly here. Last month the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5019 – also known as the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 or “Cash for Caulkers” – to kick-start construction, create jobs and cut back carbon emissions. While the bill still needs to clear the Senate, supporters predict it will pass this summer.
This is great news for homeowners and contractors alike. The bill provisions $6 billion for energy-efficient or “green” retrofits. It is expected to fund renovations for 3 million families, create 168,000 new jobs and save consumers $9.2 billion on energy bills over the next 10 years.
But in order to cash in on upcoming rebates, homeowners and contractors will need to do their homework. There are 13 types of retrofits eligible for funding. Each retrofit has unique eligibility requirements and set rebate amounts. You can read the full text here.
We made it really easy to wade through the legalese. Below is a table that breaks down the 13 retrofits of the bill, along with the requirements and rebate amount for each. In addition to the requirements we listed, each retrofit must comply with Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards or other procedures to be approved by the Secretary of Energy.
| Retrofit | Requirements | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Air sealing | Rebate covers both interior and exterior sealing and includes use of the following products: sealants, caulks, insulating foams, gaskets, weather-stripping, mastics, and other building materials. | $1,500 |
| Attic insulation | Must meet the attic portions of the Department of Energy (DOE) or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) thermal bypass checklist. You must add at least R–19 insulation to existing insulation, and it must result in at least R–38 insulation in DOE climate zones 1 through 4 and at least R–49 insulation in DOE climate zones 5 through 8. Finally, it must cover at least 100 percent of an accessible attic or 75 percent of the total conditioned footprint of the house. | $1,000 |
| Duct replacement and sealing | Sealing must be installed in accordance with BPI standards or other procedures approved by the Secretary of Energy. For duct replacement, you must replace and seal at least 50 percent of a distribution system of the home. | $1,000 |
| Wall insulation | Insulation must be installed to full-stud thickness or add at least R–10 of continuous insulation. It must covers at least 75 percent of the total external wall area of the home. | $1,500 |
| Crawl space or basement insulation | Insulation must cover at least 500 square feet of crawl space or basement wall and add at least R–19 of cavity insulation or R–15 of continuous insulation to existing crawl space insulation; or R–13 of cavity insulation or R–10 of continuous insulation to basement walls. For rim joist insulation, you must fully cover the rim joist with at least R–10 of new continuous or R–13 of cavity insulation. | $250 for rim joist insulation |
| Window replacement | Must replace at least 8 exterior windows, or 75 percent of the exterior windows in a home, whichever is less, with windows that are certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council. Must comply with criteria applicable to windows under section 25(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or, in areas above 5,000 feet elevation, have a U-factor of at least 0.35 when replacing windows that are single-glazed or double-glazed with an internal air space of 1/4 inch or less. | $1,000 |
| Door or skylight replacement | Must replace at least 1 exterior door or skylight with doors or skylights that comply with the 2010 Energy Star specification for doors or skylights. | $125 per door or skylight with a limit of 2 doors and 2 skylights |
| Heating system replacement | See second table below | $1,000 |
| Air-source air conditioner or heat pump installation | Must be installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI–2007. The air-source air conditioner must meet or exceed SEER 16 and EER 13; or SEER 18 and EER 15. The air-source heat pump must meet or exceed SEER 15, EER 12.5, and HSPF 8.5. | $1,500 |
| Geothermal heat pump installation | Must be an Energy Star qualified geothermal heat pump that meets Tier 2 efficiency requirements and that is installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI–2007. | $1,000 |
| Water heater replacement | See third table below | $1,000 |
| Storm windows or doors installation | Must be installed on at least 5 existing doors or existing single-glazed windows. Must comply with any procedures that the Secretary of Energy may set for storm windows or doors and their installation. | $50 for each window or door with a minimum of 5 windows or doors and a maximum of 12 |
| Window film installation | Window film that is installed on at least 8 exterior windows, doors, or skylights, or 75 percent of the total exterior square footage of glass in a home, whichever is more, with window films that are certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council. Must have a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.43 or less with a visible light-to-solar heat gain coefficient of at least 1.1 for installations in 2009 International Energy Conservation Code climate zones 1–3; or a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.43 or less with a visible light light-to-solar heat gain coefficient of at least 1.1 and a U-factor of 0.40 or less as installed in 2009 International Energy Conservation Code climate zones 4–8. | $500 |
We also decided to combine these retrofits into three packages that will help homeowners get the best bang for their buck. But first, let’s review the program details.
Who is Eligible and How to Qualify?
The Home Star bill offers two rebate programs, the “Silver Star” program and “Gold Star” program. Here are details for each:
The Home Star bill also includes rebates for do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowners that are confident in taking on the renovations themselves. DIY’ers can get up to $250 in rebates for products purchased without installation service. This rebate is limited to attic insulation, crawl space insulation and/or air-sealing retrofits.
Seal Your House Envelope and Improve Insulation
Before carrying out any serious retrofit, homeowners need to weatherize and seal their house “envelope.” The envelope includes outer walls, windows, doors, floors and the ceiling. If the house is not properly sealed and insulated, then subsequent HVAC retrofits won’t be as effective.
In some cases, savvy do-it-yourselfers may be able to handle these projects themselves. There are plenty of books and great online resources (e.g. ACEEE.org) that provide instructions. However, you should seriously consider hiring an auditor beforehand. Special diagnostics equipment will show where air is escaping and to what extent. For example, thermal imaging devices detect areas in walls that are poorly insulated and dispersing heat. This information would be unavailable without such devices.
So how much does it cost to seal all the air leaks in a home? Prices will obviously vary based on where you live, how big your property is and the scope of the retrofit. But it will likely cost a few thousand dollars to hire a contractor for this type of renovation. In this example from the New York Times, the author spent $3,760 for insulating and sealing the envelope of his 1,200 square foot home.
How much can homeowners expect to save? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that homeowners can save 20% on heating and cooling costs by sealing leaks and adding insulation. In New York – one of the most expensive places to heat a home with an average annual cost of $1,513 – this would be a yearly savings of $300 just for heating.
Continuing with the example from the New York Times, the Silver Star program would provide $1,880 (50%) in rebates for their retrofit. At an annual savings rate of $300, the renovation would pay for itself in six years (or less if you include cost savings from reduced air conditioning bills).
Repair and Replace Leaky Ducts
Ducts are notoriously leaky and inefficient. They are one of the usual suspects in a crime of high utility bills, or when rooms are difficult to heat and cool. The EPA calculates that 20% of air moving through ductwork is lost due to leaks, holes and poor connections. Other sources put estimates closer to 40%. So while suffering from “leaky ducts” may sound innocuous, it can have a big impact on the efficiency and costs of heating and cooling your home.
Fortunately, duct replacement and sealing is eligible for funding under the Home Star bill. Many homeowners will want to outsource this project to a qualified HVAC contractor. Contractors have equipment to detect leaks that otherwise may not be immediately visible. They also have methods to seal ducts that are inaccessible. For example, by spraying an adhesive or sealant through the duct work.
Replacing and sealing ducts can also be a DIY project, especially when ducts can be easily accessed in an attic or basement. Leaks should be sealed with mastic sealant or metal tape (not duct tape), then insulated to reduce heat loss and to further improve efficiency. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has an excellent guide on how to seal and insulate ducts.
Upgrade Your Furnace and Water Heater
Heating is the largest energy expense in homes, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). In colder parts of the country, it makes up 30 to 50% of annual energy bills. So improving the heating efficiency of your home will have the biggest impact on lowering your energy costs. Sealing air leaks is a good start, but replacing your heating system could provide real leverage towards cost savings.
If your furnace or boiler was purchased before 1990, then it is time to consider an upgrade. Modern furnaces are much more efficient than those that are older than 20 years. You can use rebates from the Home Star bill to replace your furnace, but you will need to meet their guidelines:
| Type of Replacement | Requirements | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement with a natural gas or propane furnace | The furnace must have an AFUE rating of 92 or greater; or an AFUE rating of 95 or greater. Must be installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007. | $750 |
| Replacement with a natural gas or propane boiler | Boiler must have an AFUE rating of 90 or greater. Must be installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007. | $1,000 |
| Replacement with an oil furnace | Furnace must have an AFUE rating of 86 or greater and use an electrically commutated blower motor. Must be installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007. | $1,000 |
| Replacement with an oil boiler | Boiler must have an AFUE rating of 86 or greater and temperature reset or thermal purge controls. Must be installed in accordance with ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 QI-2007. | $1,000 |
| Replacement with a wood or pellet furnace, boiler, or stove | The new system must meet at least 75 percent of the heating demands of the home; and in the case of a wood stove, but not a pellet stove, replace an existing wood stove, but not a pellet stove, and is certified by the Administrator of the EPA. The home must have a distribution system (such as ducts, vents, blowers, or affixed fans) that allows heat to reach all or most parts of the home. In the case where an old wood stove is being replaced, a voucher must be provided by the installer or other responsible party certifying that the old wood stove has been removed and rendered inoperable or recycled at an appropriate recycling facility. An accredited independent laboratory recognized by the Administrator of the EPA must certify that the new system has thermal efficiency (lower heating value) of at least 75 percent for wood and pellet stoves, and at least 80 percent for furnaces and boilers; and has particulate emissions of less than 3.0 grams per hour for stoves, and less than 0.32 lbs/mmBTU for outdoor furnaces and boilers. | $500 |
Water heaters are typically the second largest energy users after home heating and cooling systems. Replacing convention oil-fired water heaters with high-efficiency gas or electric heaters can save homeowners thousands of dollars over a 10 to 15 year period. The Home Star bill includes a variety of replacement options eligible for rebates.
| Replacement options | Rebate Amount |
|---|---|
| Replace with a natural gas or propane condensing storage water heater with an energy factor of 0.80 or more, or a natural gas or propane storage or tankless water heater with thermal efficiency of 90 percent or more. | $1,000 |
| Replace with a tankless natural gas or propane water heater with an energy factor of at least 0.82. | $750 |
| Replace with a natural gas or propane storage water heater with an energy factor of at least 0.67. | $400 |
| Replace with an indirect water heater with an insulated storage tank that has a storage capacity of at least 30 gallons and is insulated to at least R–16; and is installed in conjunction with a qualifying boiler described in the previous table. | $1,000 |
| Replace with an electric water heater with an energy factor of 2.0 or more. | $1,000 |
| Replace with an electric tankless water heater with an energy factor or thermal efficiency, as applicable, of .96 or more or a thermal efficiency of 96 percent or more, that operates on not greater than 25 kilowatts. | $250 each for a maximum of 4 electric tankless water heaters |
| Replace with a solar hot water system that is certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation or that meets technical standards established by the State of Hawaii. | $1,000 |
| Replace with a water heater installed in conjunction with a qualifying geothermal heat pump – as described in our first table – that provides domestic water heating through the use of a desuperheater or year-round demand water heating capability. | $500 for a desuperheater |
An alternative to furnaces and boilers are ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). Also known as geothermal heat pumps, GSHPs are one of the most efficient systems for heating and cooling buildings. According to the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, GSHPs are 50 to 70% more efficient than other heating systems, and 20 to 40% more efficient than traditional air conditioners. They can also be used as an alternative water-heating system and save up to 50% on water-heating bills.
Ground source heat pumps are more economical than using oil or air-source heat pumps, but there is still a lot of debate over GSHPs versus natural gas. Homeowners will need carry out their own due diligence beforehand. For starters, here is an academic report that compares the two options.
Year over year, a ground source heat pump is more cost effective than natural gas. It’s the initial cost that really drives down the return on investment (ROI) and makes natural gas a more attractive option. However, there are several rebates and tax credits available that help subsidize the upfront cost.
Additional Financing Resources
With other legislation in the queue, it might take weeks or months to hear the Senate’s final decision on the Home Star bill. In the meantime, homeowners can receive funding from other sources to pay for green renovations. The federal government, state governments, local municipalities and even utility companies offer several options.
For example, homeowners can still receive a federal tax credit for 30% of the cost of energy-efficient products (up to a total credit of $1,500). This includes the purchase of central air conditioning systems (both the product and installation), electric heat pumps, furnaces and boilers, and whole-house ventilation fans. Visit the US Department of Energy Energy Savers website for more information.
Another great resource is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency or “DSIRE” website. This allows you to view rebates, loan and grant programs, financing options and tax credits offered in your region.
Finally, new home buyers should consider an energy-efficient mortgage or energy improvement mortgage. These mortgages allow consumers to count savings from energy bills as additional income, ultimately giving them more buying power. Home Energy Magazine has a helpful article here.
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