With incorporating energy efficiency and "green" standards into remodeling projects becoming in high demand for homeowners, tools to make decisions about what to include in a project (for both homeowner and professional) are essential.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development developed the Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor to address these needs. The tool helps the user determine recommended energy-efficiency measures and the cost, savings, and payback produced by choosing energy efficient instead of the minimum required by the governing codes and standards. The tool draws extensively on information from the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Rehab Advisor addresses concerns related to energy efficiency and to standard green building concerns. Says Carlos Martin of the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), "The Rehab Advisor provides easy options without promoting any products or manufacturers so that homeowners can make their own decisions — as can remodelers who want to provide services to them. In fact, we're finding that remodelers often refer their clients to the tool so that both parties are working off the same page."
"PATH saw a huge need for both homeowners and remodelers to get quick answers to their remodeling questions. So many folks are concerned about their energy costs but bewildered by the pea soup of all the green information and resources," says Martin.
In addition to providing extensive "how to" information for homeowners and professionals, the tool assists users in making decisions in a variety of areas, including:
- Comfort
- Durability
- Maintenance
- Indoor air quality
- Operating costs
- Quiet operation
- Control
- Environment
- Water use
- Freezing problems
