I recently signed up for a home energy audit on my own home through Xcel Energy. They offer two versions—comprehensive audit with blower door for $90.00, or an add/option for thermal imaging camera at an additional $30 ($120 total). On the open market, these tests retail at about $500. Furthermore, Excel will bill you through your regular monthly utility bill.

Xcel has contracted with Lightly Treading to conduct the audit. I arranged the audit with Xcel, and Lightly Treading called to schedule the appointment about ten days hence. They even scheduled one late in the day for my convenience. The auditor who came was very thorough, well trained, and courteous. The audit took about 90 minutes. He encouraged me to walk around with him and ask lots of questions. He was patient and enthusiastic, with lots of suggestions and advice.

A comprehensive written report was mailed to my home a few days later with lots of details, including color photographs depicting the images from the infra-red camera. Those images were very graphic and compelling. The report indicated that my house leaks enough to totally exchange all the air in my house with outside (unheated) air every 2 hours. Believe it or not, that is about average (and very expensive).

New designated ICAT lighting fixtures can reduce drafts and save energy in your home. (Copyright © 2010 Parrish Construction)

The blower door was quickly installed in place of our front door. The powerful fan blows to the outside, creating a negative pressure in the house. Enough of a vacuum to make it very easy to determine where the envelope of the house has leaks. No smoke sticks required.

It was very easy to feel a strong breeze in many places. Some were expected, but many others were a surprise. The ceiling recessed can lights, even though they were all IC (insulated can) rated, leaked air so much they felt like ceiling fans, though they had insulation packed around them. There is a new air tight fixture designed to cure this—these fixtures are designated ICAT.

I will be using my home as a test home for curing some of the problems. I’ve located some retrofit trim kits designed to convert leaky can lights into air-tight fixtures. I’ll keep you posted on how they work. In the meantime, I can recommend the home energy audits by Xcel. Good value, and good information.

More news to come…Larry

Links:

• Click here for more information on the Xcel Energy audit including contact information and breakdown of programs.
• Click here to view an in-depth interview with an Xcel representative on YouTube.
• Click here for more information on energy tax credits available through the end of 2010.

In today’s economy, it’s important to maintain and protect the investment you have in your home. If you’re trying to save money now by delaying maintenance, repairs, and upgrades, keep in mind that it will only be more costly in the future because prices are at an all-time low and will only continue to go up, and because necessary repairs that are delayed will cause more damage as time goes on.

During the recession, many people realize that extravagant, expensive purchases won’t necessarily make them happy in the long-term. However, responsible spending on things that are necessary or practical protects your investment and can give you a great deal of satisfaction and sense of security.

When considering an up-grade, more and more people are choosing to remain in their homes, instead of undertaking the costs and labor of moving.  Here are a few trends we have seen lately in remodeling that reflect this new paradigm of investing in what’s important instead of what’s popular:

• Replacing drafty, cold windows and doors, and inefficient boilers, furnaces and hot water heaters with new energy-efficient ones.
• Adding caulking, weather stripping, and insulation to lower energy bills.
• Since eating out can become an expensive habit, kitchen remodels or upgrades have given many clients the tools and space they need, maximizing their enjoyment in cooking and eating at home with the family, while increasing their home’s market value and return on investment.
• Remodeling bathrooms and replacing old toilets with new more efficient, water-saving models.
• Recapturing unused sun rooms, saunas, & hot tubs to create more usable living space.
• Adding built-in cabinets to existing space to improve efficiency and organization.
• Finishing or remodeling a basement—a more economical choice than adding on.
• Encapsulating dangerous lead paint with a fresh coat of low VOC paint to prevent ingestion of peeling paint chips or dust—especially important around young children.

Our clients who are reaching retirement age and are planning to remain in their home are implementing the following home improvements that will allow them to do just that by increasing safety and mobility features:

• Grab bars in showers, bathtubs, hallways and stairs
• Rebuilding showers without thresholds
• Replacing bathtubs with walk-in versions or with a shower
• Raising bath vanities to prevent back strain
• Improving task or safety lighting in key areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and stairwells
• Installing stair lifts or elevators to provide easy access to all parts of their home, and increase mobility and livable space.  Ramps can also be installed where practical.