PATH TO HOME ENERGY SAVINGS

PATH TO HOME ENERGYSAVINGS

• Why Home Energy Efficiency?• The Path to Energy Savings• Financing Improvements and

Choosing a Contractor• Resources and How You Can Help• Questions

Presentation Outline

Individual Benefits

• Stop losing money• Comfort• Indoor air quality

Impact in Tompkins County

• 50% reduction in residential energy use

• $34.3 million annual energy savings• 1,700 contractor job-years• 412 permanent jobs from the on-

going multiplier effect• 267,000 tons of carbon dioxide

emission reductions

Impact in Tompkins County


Choosing a Contractor• Resources and How you can help• Questions


Path to Home Energy Savings

Space Heating57%

Lighting & Appliances 19%

Refrigerator

Hot Water17%

Air conditioning

3%

Source:Residential Energy Consumption Survey Energy Information Administration

4%

Home Energy Use in Mid-Atlantic States

Common Misconceptions

• “My home is weatherized”• “I’ll replace my heating

system first”• “I need new windows”• “I’m installing solar

panels”

Step 1: No Cost / Low Cost

• Replace incandescent with compact-fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or LEDs

• Weather-strip doors and caulk windows

• Install storm windows or plastic sheeting

• Reduce your hot water use:– Reduce hot water temperature to 120

degrees– Wash clothes in cold water and line dry– Install low flow shower heads and faucet

aerators

• Turn off and unplug computers, TVs, and other electronics. Stop Vampire power / phantom load!

Step 1: No Cost / Low Cost

Step 2: Tune Up Energy Users

• Turn down the temperature. Install and use a programmable thermostat

• Insulate hot water pipes• Seal leaks on heating system ductwork and

around furnace filter cavity• Keep your heating system and appliances

operating efficiently:– Change furnace filter twice a year– Clean filters and coils of refrigerator, air

conditioner, and furnace– Regular tune-ups of furnace and boiler (by

professional)

A Building Performance Institute (BPI)-

accredited contractor will look at your house as

a whole and assess air leakage, insulation,

appliances, and lighting. The contractor will

make recommendations to help you decide how

to upgrade your house in the most cost effective

way.

A. Energy Assessments

• Blower Door Test– Fan that sucks air out

of your house drawing in air through any gaps and cracks

– Measures air leakage– Simulates a 30mph

wind on a winter day


A. Energy Assessments: Thermal Imaging Camera

Thermal Imaging Camera– Detects air leakage

and gaps in insulation

Images Source: Massachusetts Infrared Imaginghttp://www.massinfrared.com/files/infrared_insulation.jpg


• Combustion and Distribution Efficiency Test– Measures efficiency of heating system– Identifies indoor air pollutants and improperly

vented appliances• Scheduling an assessment

– Typically takes 3-4 hours– Green Jobs Green NY provides free or reduced

cost assessments• After the assessment

– Modeling– Report of recommended measures, cost, energy

savings, payback

Step 3: Whole-House Energy Assessment and Upgrade

A. Comprehensive energy assessment by Building Performance Institute (BPI) accredited contractor

B. Air sealing by BPI contractorC. Insulation installation by BPI contractorD. Furnace or boiler replacement with

high-efficiency model by BPI-contractor

B. Air Leakage

• Our homes are full of holes and cracks that leak heated air out of the house and suck cold outdoor air into the house

Infiltration & Exfiltration

NeutralPressurePlane

Air out at upper levels= Air in at lower levels

The Stack Effect

B. Air Leakage

• Because of the stack effect, priority spots to air seal and insulate are the attic floor, basement ceiling or walls, and where the house meets the foundation

• Can use caulk, weatherstripping, spray foam insulation to seal air leaks

• Best to hire a professional to use a blower door otherwise you will miss significant leaks

• Most insulation products don’t block air flow! You should always air seal first then insulate

• Many Home Improvement contractors are not aware of the above information.

C. Insulation

• R- Values • Types of insulation

– Loose Fill– Blankets and Batts– Rigid Boards– Foam

Increase Thermal Insulation Levels

Only 20% of homes built before 1980 are well insulated

Recommended Levels– Attics R-40 - 60– Walls R-20 - 30– Floor over non-htd space R-20 - 30– Basement walls R-11 - 19

D. Upgrade heating system

• Do this after air sealing and insulation. Size matters.

• Newest models are 80-95% efficient• A model with a 60% efficiency is

wasting $.40 of every dollar

Photo Credit: Paul Myers, Upstate Energy Solutions

Step 4: Upgrade Appliances

• Replace refrigerator and freezer (with Energy Star models)

• Always buy energy star appliances!• When buying new appliances buy the

most efficient model you can afford.

Refrigerators

Source: U.S. DOE Energy Star Qualified Refrigerators Partner Resource Guide

Step 6: Renewable Energy

• Solar, wind, wood or pellet, geothermal, micro-hydro

Use our online financing guide: upgradeupstate.org

Financing Improvements

Choose your income

Homeowner Tier II

NYSERDA’s Green Jobs Green NY program offers free and reduced-cost residential energy assessments. Here’s how it works:

1.See if you are eligible: – Own 1-4 unit residential building– Household income under 200% median income

($147,600) for free audit, under 400% median for reduced-cost audit ($295,200)

2.Complete a program application. Must include 1 year summary of previous energy usage

3.Schedule an assessment with a BPI contractor

Green Jobs Green NY Energy Audits

Choosing a Contractor

• Look for Building Performance Institute (BPI) accredited Contractors

• Ask lots of questions– What’s included in the assessment?– Credentials, certifications, references?– What incentives do I qualify for?

• Avoid single technology vendors

Choosing a Contractor

Home Energy Savings Site

Interactive Path

Check out our interactive Path

How-to Videos

Some InspirationSome Inspiration

How you can help

• Make energy improvements to your home and share your experience with others

• Host a presentation at a community group• Become a neighborhood block captain • Host a home energy house party• Become an energy steward• Get on the path to Energy Savings. Take

the pledge.

How You Can Help

Upcoming Events Energy Savings 101: Save Energy Save

DollarsLearn low- and no-cost ways to save energy and cut bills. Learn about programs to help you afford energy-efficiency improvements. Participants receive free weather-stripping, shrink window cover, outlet and light switch insulators, and more.

January 30• 6:00-8:00pm • Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County

FREE. Pre-registration is required. To register call 272-2292.

Upcoming Events

• Made up of 3-5 work-study students, mainly from Cornell. • Over the summer, main focus was outreach for NYSERDA’s Green

Jobs Green NY home energy audit program. Ran a table at a variety of events throughout Ithaca and Tompkins County (Green Gorges Expo, Juneteenth Festival, Cornell Staff Development Day, Grassroots!, to name a few)

• Followed up with “leads” gained at these events to maintain interest, also held a weekly energy raffle.

Energy Corps Internship Program

Other Projects..To Name a Few

• Worked with Tompkins County Planners to write a grant for New York’s Cleaner, Greener Communities Program, goal is to mandate home energy audits for homes that are listed for sale and create a market for energy efficient housing in Tompkins County.

• Currently working with Off-Campus Housing on creating a survey to gain data on student interest in energy efficient housing, hope is to address the split-incentive barrier in rental housing.

• Wrote DIY guides for home energy efficiency projects, working on incorporating these with home energy workshops.

Interested in Working With Us?

• We are looking for opportunities to increase our presence on campus. If you have a project or idea that you would like to collaborate on, please contact me!

Chris HarveyEconomics ‘15

[email protected](908) 763-9244

mailto:[email protected]

Questions?

Dee GambleSenior Energy Program Manager

607-272-2292 ext. 267 [email protected]

ccetompkins.org/energypath

Questions?

PATH TO HOME ENERGY SAVINGS

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