Our new EBook has been released. It is entitled “Energy Efficient Home Tips“, Your Guide to Saving Money On Your Energy Bill”.

This is the complete guide for saving energy in your home. This book will show you everything you need to know to reduce your energy bill. We have also given a free bonus book with your purchase. It is entitled “Saving The Environment”.

Saving energy and our planet is not going to be a choice. It is something that we HAVE to do. Click on the link for more information.

These books are priced to make sure that everyone will get one and work on saving energy. Get yours today. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain! For more information visit: “Energy Efficient Home Tips“.

I wanted to do an interview with a builder of energy efficient homes to give you a view from a different perspective. I chose a local builder/developer with almost 40 years of experience. I interviewed Tom White who works for Indian River Land Company and Moore Grant Construction of Millsboro, Delaware. Tom is both a realtor and a sales manager for 2 of their developments. He helps people build new homes from start to finish.

I also had the opportunity to meet and talk with Chris Moore Lind, who is the General Manager of Moore Grant Construction. He is a very impressive third generation Moore, who was raised in this business! It is very obvious that he knows the business and takes care of his customers. You can find more information about Indian River Land Company and Moore Grant Construction on their web site at: Indian River Land Company.

As always, these are Tom’s opinions and people building energy efficient homes must make their own decisions based on their own due diligence. With that in mind here is the interview:

Bob:
According to the Department of Energy any home with a HERS rating below 70 is considered “High Performance”. I heard that less than 5% of new homes qualify. One local builder claims to have a 56 and even a 34 with the Solar option installed. What do your homes rate, and how important is this number to a new home buyer?

Tom:
There are several levels of Energy Star ratings. We have chosen to go a different route then the HERS rating. It is very expensive to get the rating done and there are much less expensive ways to measure your home for energy efficient results. We feel that in some ways the energy rating over rides curb appeal. As you have found most energy builders have very few plans to select from. We feel that that takes away from the custom home approach.

Bob:
I know that you have “conditioned” crawlspaces. Just how does this affect the energy efficiency, and should new home buyers building energy efficient homes request this if it is not already there?

Tom:
We do recommend conditioned crawl spaces. We do so for several reasons. A) It does not add much to the overall cost of the home, less then $2,000 .B) You do not need to insulate the underside of the first floor. C) It eliminates the possibility of ever having mold or mildew in the crawl space. D) It makes the first floor cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Bob:
Insulation is obviously a big consideration. Could you tell me the code required amount and what should a new home buyer be looking for (Walls, ceiling, floors and crawlspace) and would six inch outside walls be worth the extra costs?

Tom:
It is not where the insulation is, but more where it is not. Wherever there is wood and not insulation is a weak spot. Therefore every stud for example is less insulated then the remainder of the wall regardless of it being 2 x 4 or 2 x 6. Spray insulation is inch for inch the best R rating but also the most expensive. Companies are realizing this and are offering a thin coat of spray below bat insulation. Going from an R-30 to R-38 in ceiling adds a lot of energy savings with out much cost, $300 per home. The code is not where you need to be. This is a minimum standard. We like R- 38 in ceiling and R-19 in the walls. The spray insulation of ½ inch adds to that.

Bob:
All windows, doors, and other openings are usually foam sealed to seal leaks. Should the builder have a third party perform a blower test to test for leakage?

Tom:
A blow test shows the air leakage in the house. It again is not very expensive, $300, but well worth it. We have our homes air sealed along with the required fire stop. Again not much cost but a necessary step to stop air leakage.

Bob:
I know that there are a lot of variables when it comes to selecting a heating and cooling system. Could you give a brief overview of the most cost effective systems with the quickest payback?

Tom:
HVAC is always a disputed subject. Everyone says that their system is the best. For this area a heat pump is the best choice. In order to have central AC you need duct work and the duct work is also what is needed for a heat pump. There are two variables when it comes to a heat pump. When it is being used to heat your home down to outside temperatures of 40 degrees the electric heat pump is most efficient. The SEER rating is the gauge to measure efficiency. The higher the SEER the more efficient. Therefore an 18 SEER is more efficient then 14 SEER. However an 18 SEER is more expensive. We think a 16 SEER is not that much more in cost while very efficient. Something else that helps keep the operating cost down is a variable speed motor. This means that the speed of the motor in the air handler only runs at the required speed to maintain the selected air temperature. The second owner selected option is the fuel selection for the heat pump when the outside temperature drops below say 40 degrees. Many in this area select gas. Since most now have a gas fireplace along with a gas water heater it just natural to have gas for the backup fuel.

Bob:
Would a builder normally install CFL lighting when building energy efficient homes or does the buyer have to request it?

Tom:
CFL is a customer selection. In most cases it is merely a bulb change.

Bob:
When building energy efficient homes, should the new home buyer be considering the new tankless hot water heaters?

Tom:
Moving right in to the tankless water heater. They are $1,500 to purchase vs. $800 for a electric or gas tanked water heater. You should see the savings within 18 months. It never runs out of hot water. You need to size it according to the number of gallons that you may need at any given time. In most cases 7.5 gallons/minute is fine.

Bob:
When selecting a floor plan for their new home are there any things that a new home buyer should look for to make their new home more energy efficient?

Tom:
Site planning is probably the most important. Window walls on a south facing wall help heat a house. North facing window walls are very hard on the heating bill. Trees blocking the hot sun in the summer keep the south side of the home cooler. Shrubs all around the house also help insulate the home. Windows in general are not good insulators. Therefore it is smart to select the best window you can afford to allow for great curb appeal and minimal heat loss.

Bob:
When building energy efficient homes, are there any other questions that a new home buyer should be asking their builder to insure that they are getting the most energy efficient “bang for their buck”?

Tom:
Every question a home builder is asked is a good question. The more you ask the more I need to know. We do not have all the answers. We do have sub-contractors that have access to the experts.

Bob:
What advice do you have for people building energy efficient homes in today’s world and what should they look for when selecting a builder?

Tom:
Full disclosure. An open contractor that shares all that he or she knows without having to be asked. Open and honest. We also feel that a stick built home is a better home than one made of pre-structured parts. Example, roof rafters, our homes are built one stick at a time. It takes longer but it offers attic space that can be floored and used for storage. The cost of a new home is very high. Probably the single biggest investment most people make. You need to use every square foot to your advantage.

Bob:
I appreciate you taking the time to help my readers make more informed decisions when building energy efficient homes and selecting a builder. Hopefully they will save some money and help save the planet!

What is an energy efficient mortgage program? In simple terms it is simply a mortgage, or a refinance for an energy efficient home that has been certified by HERS (Home Energy Rating System). It can still be a conventional Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan or a federally insured FHA or VA loan.

If you qualify for a regular loan, then you will qualify for the energy efficient mortgage program. The difference would be the house. You will have to give the HERS report to your lender to see how much difference it will make. Typically the HERS report costs between $100 to $300. Sometimes this can even be rolled into the settlement costs. If you review your energy efficiency plans with your banker, they will be able to help you decide whether or not to have the inspection done.

Normally you will be able to increase your debt to income ratio. That is because your monthly bills will be decreased by the energy efficiency of the house. This translates into you getting a larger loan and perhaps a better home.

There are several other advantages to the energy efficient mortgage program. Besides having a bigger and or better home, you will be paying less in monthly energy bills. So even though your mortgage payments are more, your total monthly cost will be less. When it becomes time to sell your home, you will have a home that sells quicker and has a wider range of buyers. It will be much more attractive compared to the other homes on the market.

So whether you are buying a new home or making your present home more energy efficient, be sure to check into the energy efficient mortgage program and compare the savings!

This is the ultimate Green book series. Just released and at a special price of only $27.00. It will probably take you 10 or 15 minutes of reading to get your money back. Green living technology is no longer going to be a choice. It is something that we have to do if we want the planet to remain healthy. Do your part today. Oh, and put some extra money in your pocket! Get your books today at: “Green Living Technology“. Highly recommended!
Watch this video for a couple of hypermiling tips. Just remember to be safety conscious when trying these techniques!

Energy efficient lights have many advantages over the old fashioned incandescent lights. Your home can pollute the environment more than your car if you are using them! The average American home is responsible for twice as many greenhouse emissions as their car.

Lighting consumes approximately 22%  of the electrical power generated in the United States.  Energy efficient lights are good for you and good for the environment.

Depending upon the application and type of your energy efficient lights, they could last up to 16 times longer than conventional bulbs. And they use about 75% less electricity. They are safer, cooler, and produce even lighting.

Why if every American replaced 5 heavily used lights in their home with energy efficient lights we could save around 8 billion dollars a year in energy costs! Typically the most used lights are in the family room, living room, kitchen, and the outdoor lights. Yes, replace those porch and post lights with energy efficient lights.

Energy efficient lights have come a long way. They are available in cool white, soft white, daylight, and dimming, just to name a few. A word of caution on fixtures with dimming capabilities. Regular energy efficient lights will not work in them. You would have to buy a special bulb made for that application, and even then there is no guarantee that they will work. Save your reciept and check the store’s return policy before purchasing.

How many energy efficient lights does it take to make a difference? Just one!!!! Watch this National Geographic video.

In this post we will cover energy efficient water heaters. We will not talk about the energy efficient tankless water heaters because they are covered in detail in a previous post. See it at: Energy Efficient Tankless Water Heaters.

Energy efficiency is a hot topic right now and new technologies are being introduced everyday. We recommend that you do not wait until you need a new water heater to do your research. You may find yourself buying what ever is available, instead of what is best! This is not a good plan since your hot water heater is the biggest waste of your energy costs. So do your research now, and double check it just when you are ready to purchase.

Consumers have a tendency to purchase their heater based on size. Actually the First Hour Rating (FHR) is more important to consider. The FHR represents the amount of hot water that the unit will deliver during a busy hour. Estimate your family’s usage during the peak hour usage and find a unit with a FHR that will cover it.

The most energy efficient water heaters are generally gas fired. Electric resistance is an expensive way to generate heat and not as environmentally friendly. Before you make the final decision, check with your utility company to see if they have any incentives that may make electricity more attractive.

Besides the standard gas and electric energy efficient water heaters there is the indirect water heater. This type is only for consumers who have a boiler. It uses your boiler as its heat source. This type of system eliminates a lot of the heat loss through the flue, as associated with the gas fired heaters.

The next type is a heat pump water heater or desuperheater. With this type the electric is used to move the heat from one place to another instead of actually creating it. The heat source comes from the heat in the outside air or the area where the unit is located. This type is not very common and harder to find.

Solar water heaters use the sun to heat your water. They are very expensive and hard to calculate the cost because there are so many factors that affect it. These would include the amount of sun, where you live, which way your roof is facing and the amount of hot water that you use. If everything is right though they offer a virtually cost free hot water from a renewable energy. Seems like solar power was hot, then cold and now it seems to be making a comeback. There seem to be many opinions out there for and against solar power. The drawback is that you must have some type of backup system for when there is no sun.

For a list of manufacturers and the efficiency ratings for their units visit the gama site.

So the bottom line is that this is a very big decision. Make sure that you use every available resource to do your research before you spend your hard earned money. If you make a mistake, you will be paying for it for a long time!

Seems like there are many reasons for liking energy efficient tankless hot water heaters! I will review the pros and cons, but you will have to make the final decision as to whether or not they are for you. If this is your first look into the world of energy efficient tankless water heaters, I put a very simple video at the end of this post. It is very basic, but will show you the difference.
Mostly they have a longer life expectancy, save money, save energy, take less space, and have an endless supply of hot water.
First there is the life expectancy. Make sure that you figure this in when you are doing your calculations. The life expectancy for a regular hot water tank type heater will probably be in the 10 - 12 year range. Of course there are factors that will change that, such as the quality of your water. The life expectancy of a tankless water heater will be closer to the 20 year range. And I did find some with a lifetime warranty.
There seem to be a lot of numbers floating around as to the amount of savings. The tankless water heater could be as much as 40% more energy efficient, depending upon who you believe and your personal use habits. The conventional water heater keeps water at a constant temperature and is always reheating the water. The tankless, also known as “on demand” type of water heater only heats water when it is called for. Just think of the savings if you went on vacation, or even if you did not normally use hot water for hours on end.
The space savings is a nice benefit. Since they are mounted on the wall they take zero floor space, plus they can be mounted closer to the point of use. This gives you a lot more flexibility when choosing a location. You may also want to consider having more than one. For example if you had a remote area with little use, you could install a smaller unit. This would take some of the load off of the main unit, plus put the water closer to the point of use.
The endless supply of hot water is a big benefit for larger families. There is nothing worse than being the one in the shower when the hot water is gone! And of course it seems like forever before there is hot water again.
There could be a federal tax credit of $300. The unit would have to have an efficiency rating of .80 minimum to qualify. They do not all meet this number.
You can also check to see if you qualify for any state or local incentives or rebates. Go to www.dsireusa.org to check.
OK, this all sounds good, but what are the disadvantages?
First there is your ground water temperature. If your ground water is very cold, because you live in the north, it may take a much bigger unit to do the job. The cooler water affects the flow rate.
Some units require a large venting system. This may make it hard to deal with if you are installing in a preexisting home or business. Obviously they are better suited to new construction.
There have been complaints of the time it takes to get hot water to the point of use. Now I don’t know about you, but the only way that I get instant hot water is if it has already been running. So I have to wait anyway.
This is probably a job better left to the pros. Most units will require licensed installers to keep the warranty in tact.
So how do you decide if energy efficient tankless water heaters are for you? You should contact an installer. He should have a lot of questions about your use, location, ground water temperature, and your present cost. He should be able to review his calculations with you and show you how he arrived at his conclusions.
Just remember that they are trying to sell units. Make sure that you are confident with the company and the calculations. It would probably be better for you if they sold both types. That way you could see the difference between a newer more energy efficient conventional water heater and the new energy efficient tankless water heaters!

Whether you are replacing your present windows because the old ones are damaged beyond repair, you just want to make your home look better, or you are trying to be more energy efficient, the most important thing to look for is the consumer rating for your replacement windows.

The consumer rating for replacement windows is controlled by the NFRC. That is the National Fenestration Rating Council. Here is a little bit about them right from their web site at: http://www.nfrc.org/about.aspx

“NFRC is a non-profit organization that administers the only uniform, independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, skylights, and attachment products. Our goal is to provide fair, accurate, and reliable energy performance ratings so that:
•  Architects, builders, code officials, contractors, homeowners, and others can compare different products and make informed product choices.
•  Building officials, state government employees, and others involved in code development and enforcement can determine if products meet local codes.
•  Government- and utility-run energy efficiency programs can establish performance requirements and standards.
•  Manufacturers have a fair and level playing field to compare products and an accurate method of showing the energy benefits of new designs or technology.”

When deciding which replacement windows to purchase by looking at the consumer ratings, you must first determine the primary job of your windows. This chart will help you decide if your windows will mostly be used for heating or cooling. Mostly windows will be sold by location, but this is a big decision and you must insure that you are getting the correct windows for your location!

When you buy replacement windows you want to make sure that they are Energy Star certified. The only way for that to happen is if they have been rated by the NFRC.
Let’s take a look at the NFRC label and see what the numbers mean.

The U factor shows how well it keeps the heat in your home. The lower the number, the better.

The solar heat gain shows how the window keeps the heat out. Again, a lower number is better.

The visible transmittance shows how much light comes through the window. The higher the number, the more light that is let in.

Air leakage shows how much air is leaked through the window. A lower number means less air gets into your home.

Condensation resistance shows the ability of the window to getting condensation on the inside of the window. The higher number means that the window is more resistant.

So no matter what your reason is for replacing your windows, make sure that you pay close attention to the consumer ratings for replacement windows. They should have both the NFRC label and the Energy Star certification.

For a complete list of windows that have been tested, and their results, visit the NFRC web site at: http://search.nfrc.org/

As sure as someone is looking for something, there is someone else looking to make money from scams! One of the biggest seems to be the diet craze. People are eating more, not eating as healthy, and gaining weight. So naturally there are people waiting to take their money with the answer to their problems. And of course I have to ask myself that if there was a pill that could make you lose weight, would they not be able to keep it in stock and wouldn’t everyone be talking about it?
I asked my doctor if diet pills worked. He said that yes they do. Take the pill bottle and throw it as far as you can. Then run after it and repeat 50 times. Do this everyday and you will lose weight!
The same applies to the saving energy and saving money craze. I found a product that was claimed to save you a large percentage of money on your electric bill. Well if it sounds too good to be true, do some serious research. The product was called the XPower Saver. Now I want to tell you that if the product you are researching makes it to the RipOffReport.com web site, then you had better beware. I also found a TV station that did a report and some testing on the product. Looks like it did not do well. Take a few minutes to watch the video.

This is really an eye opener. So the bottom line is: “Buyer Beware”. There are some great products out there that can help you save money on your energy bills and help the environment. Just make sure that you do your research before spending your hard earned money!