Reducing Energy Use in the Built Environment

Compiled to help residents cost-effectively reduce residential energy use, save money and increase home comfort.

Reducing Energy Usein the Built Environment

A Vibrant, Healthy and Equitable Region.

East Central Vermont Resident’s Guide and Resources to Reducing

Home Energy Use

Developed by Sustainable Energy Resource Group


Why Residential Building Efficiency?

• Vermont has some of the oldest and least efficient housing stock in the country


Why Residential Building Efficiency?

• More than 60% of Vermonters use propane or oil to heat homes

• Price of oil has increased more than 400% since 1999

• Price of propane has increased over 25% in past five years (over 10% in last year alone)


Includes eight sections relating to home energy use:The Guide

• Building Envelope

• Home Heating• Home Cooling• Ventilation & Air

Distribution• Lighting• Appliances &

Electronics• Water Heating

& Water Use Conservation

• Food


Resources:The Guide also contains:• List of energy-saving programs and

incentives• Glossary of common terms• Links to organizations, information, contacts• Procedures and guidelines• Tips such as “you can save about 1% on

your heating fuel use for each degree your thermostat is set back 8 hours a day throughout the winter”


Section 1: Building Envelope

Home air-sealing and insulation are two of the most cost-effective energy-saving options available to homeowners• In the average home, small

openings in the “shell” of the house account for nearly 30% of total heat loss

• Over 45% of all heat loss in homes is due to heat moving through the walls, roof and floor through conductive heat loss which insulation helps reduce



Section 1: Building Envelope

• Some measures can be done by homeowners but many of biggest opportunities will require professional help

• Trained and certified professional Home Performance with Energy Star (HPwES) contractors study the home as a whole system, performing tests that address building air leakage, heating system efficiency, indoor air quality, and construction flaws that result in high energy bills while identifying means of improvement

• HPwES professionals can be found through a national fee-for-service program by DOE and administered by Efficiency Vermont in Vermont


Section 2: Home Heating• Home heating systems

come in various designs, with different efficiency ratings, using various fuels

• Two of most common fuels in Vermont (propane and oil) are also most expensive and continue to dramatically rise in cost

• Many conservation steps can be taken before making changes to heating system


Section 3: Home Cooling• Preventing heat build-up

in home rather than cooling it using air conditioning is much cheaper and more energy-efficient

• Consider conservation strategies and weatherizing before cooling systems


Section 4: Ventilation and Air Distribution

For healthy indoor air quality, homes must exchange about 1/3 of their air for every hour

• Lack of fresh air can lead to health problems due to indoor air pollutants such as excess moisture, radon, combustion by-products, and volatile organic compounds

• Air tight homes are ideally properly ventilated with mechanical ventilation to ensure safety as well as efficiency


Section 5: Lighting• In the average American home,

lighting accounts for 5-10% of total energy use

• Traditional incandescent bulbs convert only 10% of electricity to useable light

• Lighting is a great opportunity to save energy and money

• Maximizing natural lighting and utilizing lighting controls further helps ensure additional lighting is only used when needed


Section 6: Appliances and Electronics

• Appliances and electronics account for about 13% and 4% of home’s energy costs respectively

• Buying efficient appliances and using smart power strips that eliminate “vampire” loads will reduce energy use


Section 7: Water Heating and Water-Use Conservation

• Water heating is third-largest energy user in home at roughly 14% of home’s energy costs after heating and cooling home

• There are several conservation strategies to reduce home water consumption

• Careful analysis of different types of water heaters and associated fuels as well as considering life-cycle costs of system can lead to saving money and energy


Section 8: Food• A huge amount of energy is

imbedded in growing, harvesting, processing and transporting our food

• Buying local or growing your own food reduces these hidden energy costs

• Using efficient appliances and equipment can help reduce food-associated energy use


Questions?• This Guide was developed to help

Upper Valley residents cost-effectively reduce residential energy use, save money and increase home comfort

• Although target is residential much of the included information is relevant and beneficial to commercial, municipal and community entities


Thank you!• The online guide is available at:– http://ecvermont.org/wp/wp-content/upl

oads/2014/02/ECV-Home-Energy-Guide-Final.pdf

• Sustainable Energy Resource Group– www.info-serg.org

• East Central Vermont: What we want– http://ecvermont.org/

http://ecvermont.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ECV-Home-Energy-Guide-Final.pdf



http://www.info-serg.org/

http://ecvermont.org/



Reducing Energy Use in the Built Environment

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