By Richard Wall
A lot of hot air has been wasted over the last decade or two; escaping from people's homes, and from homeowners' mouths as they've talked about becoming more energy-efficient but haven't done anything about it. Now, with fuel prices at new highs, a lot of that energy-efficiency talk is turning into action.
In response, experts have identified five top home-performance projects designed to save energy. A knowledgeable contractor can do any of these projects in two or three days—maybe more quickly, depending on the home's needs. Each one of them presents an opportunity to offer customers a budget-wise step toward a home that is about as energy efficient as it can be, short of tearing out drywall to add insulation or doing other major improvements.
Bite-sized pieces
Although these projects often are presented as DIY work, it takes an extraordinarily skilled homeowner to get them right. In fact, Carl Seville, a sustainable-building consultant and former vice president of Atlanta's SawHorse Inc., goes one step further.
"You definitely want to go with a contractor who specializes in this type of work," Seville says. A professional will ensure that the project is done correctly and ensure the energy efficiency by using in-depth knowledge and advanced products, he explains.
The five top home-performance packages include the following:
1. The HVAC Tune-Up Package. Because most of a heating and air-conditioning system is behind the walls, it's easy for homeowners to miss problems that develop over time, says Tom Kelly, CEO of Neil Kelly Design/Build Remodeling in Portland, Ore. Here are some ways to deal with them:
- Seal ducts with mastic tape or sealer. "Ducts get knocked loose, and a house with bad duct leaks could lose 30% of its heat," Kelly says.
- Explain to the homeowners that tightly built houses often trap stale air inside the home, compromising indoor air quality. Advise them to consider adding an outside air intake or an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) to bring in fresh air and exhaust the stale air.
- Recommend using high-efficiency filters in the furnace and air conditioner.
2. The High-Efficiency HVAC Package. Most older forced-air furnaces are inefficient. In fact, some effectively use only half of the fuel they burn. There is no way to increase their efficiency, so if the long-term goal is to save energy, the homeowners' only option is to replace their older unit.
- Discuss the possibility of the homeowners buying a unit with the highest Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating they can afford, starting with at least a 90% AFUE.
- Use Manual J calculations to determine unit size and avoid oversizing the new unit, and explain why it's important to do so to keep the unit operating efficiently.
- Talk about about add-ons to the unit, such as a central vacuum system, and especially a humidifier or an electronic air-cleaning system, which help improve the overall indoor air quality of the home.
3. The Air Sealing Package. Use a blower and an infrared camera to show the homeowners where heat escapes or seeps into their home. Sealing up those leaks goes a long way toward keeping conditioned air where they want it.
- In the attic, check the ceiling for leaks first. Then address leaks around the access stairs and hatch, recessed lights, ducts, vents, chases around pipes, holes in plates, and joints between different interior materials.
- In the crawlspace, check for air leaks at the connection of the foundation and framing.
- Seal holes to the outside and in the floor of the living area, including gaps around pipes, vents, ducts, flues, and wiring.
4. The Insulation Package. Warm air moves toward cooler air, whether outside to inside in summer or inside to outside in winter. Insulation retards that movement. Evaluate your customers' home's insulation needs, stated as an R-rating. Explain that the original builder may not have installed enough insulation and that insulation often compresses over time, which decreases its effectiveness.
So does incorrect installation. "Many contractors don't apply fiberglass insulation correctly: without voids and compressed areas," says Seville. "Foam and cellulose insulation are more forgiving and fill gaps better."
- In the attic, either add insulation on top of the ceiling (remove the vapor barrier between layers), or semi-condition the attic by insulating the roofline with cellulose or spray foam.
- In the basement or crawlspace, either close off vents and insulate rim joists and walls, or insulate the underside of the living area floor.
- For walls, blow in cellulose from the interior or exterior.
5. The Windows and Doors Package. It has often been said that the best window in the world is only as good as its installation. Point out to your clients what Tom Kelly says: "You can buy yourself nightmares with a bad window-replacement contractor." Those nightmares result from improper moisture sealing and flashing, and poor air sealing between the unit and the framing. Explain to the homeowners that replacing windows and doors is more complex than popping the old one out and the new one in.
- If the clients are replacing their windows, go over the many window options with them, explaining the features and benefits of each.
- If they aren't replacing windows, replace the sashes and insert kits to upgrade their current double-hung windows. Use low-expansion foam to fill in old weight pockets.
- Completely replace old casement and awning windows. Air seal around the perimeter before installing the trim, and add flexible flashing around the frame, lapped over felt paper on the walls before window installation.
- Either replace the door in the existing frame or replace the door and frame, spraying foam around the perimeter before installing trim and using flexible flashing at the bottom and sides before installing the unit.
Richard Wall is a freelance writer based in St. Augustine, Fla.
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