With the rising cost of gas and electricity, finding ways to cut back on your energy consumption is more important than ever. To help you cope, we’re taking a look at four great ways to make your home more energy efficient that are also eligible for the Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit by upgrading your heating and cooling system, water heater, windows, and attic insulation.

Home Energy Audit

Blower door test.

One of the best ways to find out how to reduce the amount of energy you use is by having an energy audit conducted on your home. Your local utility provider will often conduct the audit at no cost, or you can hire a private company.

Tests conducted include installing a blower in an exterior door to create negative air pressure inside the house. A smoke pencil and infrared photography are then used to identify areas of air movement and infiltration. Similar tests on the heating and cooling system are used to detect air leaks in the ductwork, which on average account for a 25% to 40% loss in conditioned air in your home.

Once the tests have identified problem areas in walls, around windows and doors, in the attic, and in the heating and cooling system, steps are then taken to seal up any cracks or gaps to make the house tighter and more energy efficient.

Heating & Cooling

In addition to sealing up ductwork, consider replacing an older HVAC unit with a newer, more energy efficient model that has a higher Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER).

Danny discusses water heaters with actor and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr.

Water Heaters

Heating water accounts for approximately 13% of the total energy usage in a home. Replacing an inefficient hot water heater with a new high efficiency model can save up to $300 a year on your utility bills. Energy efficient models include:

• Solar water heaters
• Heat pump water heaters
• Tankless water heaters
• High efficiency tank water heaters like the Vertex from A. O. Smith.

Windows Replacement

Up to 50% of the heating and cooling loss in older, existing homes is due to heat loss and gain through the glass in single pane windows and air infiltration in the weather stripping around the sash. While you can replace the entire window unit, JELD-WEN Windows and Doors also offers sash packs that retain the existing window frame while replacing just the sash and balance tracks on each side. The new sash have double pane glass with a low-E coating—to make them very energy efficient—set in a low maintenance, vinyl covered frame.

Insulation

Adding more insulation to your attic is one of the best and most economical ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home and reduce utility bills. A common, inexpensive solution is to install batts or blow in fiberglass or cellulose insulation on top of the existing insulation in your attic. Another option that is gaining in popularity, is to spray expanding foam insulation between the rafters and wall studs.

Spaying foam between the rafters prevents heat from entering your attic and allows your HVAC system to perform more efficiently. While more expensive than traditional insulation, foam has a higher insulation R-value and seal out air infiltration better than fiberglass or cellulose.

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• Ten Tips to Keep Your Home Energy Efficient
• (687) Small Town Green: Building an Energy Efficient Home
• Energy Efficiency Tax Credits for Homeowners

I recently added an additional layer of faced fiberglass insulation to my attic. Since then I noted you stipulated unfaced insulation for the attic if you already have a layer of insulation. What should I do? -Rod

Hi Rod,

As you’ve discovered, since you already had insulation in your attic, the layer of new insulation you added should have been unfaced to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between the layers. The good news is that the solution to your problem isn’t that difficult.

Simply peel the facing paper off the top layer of insulation. Though you might loose a little of the insulation that sticks to the paper, with most brands of insulation, the facing will peel off easily. While you will have spent a little more in both time and materials on the project than if you’d used unfaced insulation to begin with, the results will be about the same.

Good luck with your project,

Related posts:

• How to Install Fiberglass Insulation in Your Attic
• Which Way to Face Insulation?
• How to Properly Install an Attic Gable Vent Fan

In the second of our two-part series, we complete the process of adding a 500-square-foot sunroom, two porches, a covered deck, and a swimming pool to this house with a beautiful view overlooking Mobile Bay on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Since the home is located on the water in an area prone to hurricanes, we’ve taken extra precautions to beef up the construction above and beyond the stringent building codes put in place following Hurricane Katrina.

Impact Resistant Windows

On Room with a View, Part 1, we poured the foundation, framed up the addition, and installed ImpactGard impact resistant windows from JELD-WEN Window & Doors to prevent wind damage from hurricanes. ImpactGard laminated glass is composed of an interlayer of plastic sandwiched between two sheets of glass, allowing it to stand up to high winds and impact from flying debris.

HVAC System

Once the addition had been framed up, the wiring was roughed in for the electrical and home entertainment systems. Ductwork for the heating and cooling system was installed, and the old compressor replaced with a larger unit to handle the extra load.

Insulation

To reduce air infiltration, holes and cracks in the walls were filled with foam, then cellulose insulation was sprayed in the walls. The insulation is made from 85% recycled newspapers with an adhesive added to allow it to adhere to the wall cavity. Once it was dry, a power roller was used to remove any excess insulation, which could then be scooped up and reused.

Trim

An ached entrance was added between the existing house and sunroom to mirror the arches on the porch.

After the drywall had been hung, the various trim moldings were installed. Care was taken to match the beads and bevels used on the custom made JELD-WEN windows with other moldings in the room.

Flooring

The pine floors in the sunroom were carefully spliced into the flooring of the existing house. The new floor included an intricate inlaid pattern of contrasting wood.

Stucco

The exterior of the addition was covered with cement backer board, followed by a base coat of stucco. Fiberglass mesh was embedded in the stucco to reinforce seams and detail moldings. A second coat of tinted stucco was then applied to the walls of the existing house and addition.

Porches and Deck

The subfloor on the matching screened porches was covered with cement backer board followed by tile. Porcelain tile were used since they aren’t as porous as ceramic. This makes them less likely to absorb water and crack during freezing weather.

The ceilings of the porches and covered deck were covered with v-groove, 1”x 6” pine boards. The wood was given a light stain and coated with a clear finish for a natural look.

The covered deck that connected the addition to the pool was floored with 5/4” pressure treated pine.

Railing and Steps

Pressure treated steps were constructed to provide access from the pool area to the lawn below. Copper caps on the railing posts not only add a decorative touch but prevent rainwater from being absorbed into the end grain of the posts.

Pool

Once the concrete for the pool had set, a coat of plaster was troweled on the sides and bottom to give a smooth, finished appearance. A stone waterfall, cascading from the jetted soaking tub into the main pool, added a distinctive design element.

To keep the pool area free from unwanted leaves and insects, a custom built, aluminum framework—made by City Funrooms of Pensacola, Florida—was erected over the entire pool and covered with durable screening.

Pool House

A pool house was added to provide and a bathroom and changing facilities without having to go into the house. The privacy fence for the outside shower was made from a dense tropical wood called ipê which is naturally resistant to rot and decay.

Landscaping

A retaining wall made from pressure treated wood was built to stabilize the steep slope below the pool. Ground cover and flowers were planted to make the area attractive and low maintenance while sod was put down on the rest of the area.

The completed addition and pool really enhance the look and functionality of the house. With a reinforced foundation, beefed up framing, and impact resistant windows, the room with a view should stand up to whatever Mother Nature dishes out.

For more information, go to Room with a View.

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Related posts:

• (694) Room with a View, Part 1
• (685) Family Room Addition: The “Hunt” for More Room

The Heat Seeker Infrared Thermometer from General Tools is perfect way to conduct a do-it-yourself inspection of your heating/cooling system for leaks in the ductwork, or a general home energy audit. To use, simply train the laser pointer on the object and read the remote temperature reading on the LCD screen. The Heat Seeker is available at The Home Depot for less than $70.

When installing fiberglass insulation in your home, be sure to put the paper or foil vapor barrier facing toward the heated and cooled living area of the home (down in attics, up under floors, in on walls) to prevent condensation from occurring.

If you are applying an additional layer of fiberglass insulation to your attic, use unfaced insulation on top of the existing insulation to keep from trapping moisture between the layers.

Related posts:

• Faced Insulation Problem in Attic Solved
• Which Way to Face Insulation?
• How to Properly Install an Attic Gable Vent Fan

To reduce heating and cooling costs, consider having foam insulation sprayed in the walls and between the rafters in the attic. This can reduce heating and cooling by as much as 70%. The added cost of foam insulation can be recouped by energy savings in three to five years in new construction.

Related posts:

• Soybean Foam Insulation
• (702) Four Step Energy Makeover: How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
• Energy Efficiency Tax Credits for Homeowners

One of the best ways to save energy in your home is by caulking any cracks around windows and doors. While caulk alone can be applied to narrow cracks, gaps wider than ¼” should be filled with foam backer rod first.

These flexible foam tubes are available at building supply stores in several diameters. Simply push the rod into the gap with a putty knife or painter’s tool until it is just below the surface then caulk over it.

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• How to Fill Cracks in Drywall

I have 30-year-old insulated windows. A salesman told me that the seals are broken, and I am losing heat. To me the seals look fine and I speculate that broken seals should lead to condensation in the double panes. What is the best way to determine if the seals are leaking and windows need replacement?
-Deepak

Hi Deepak,
While condensation or discoloration inside the glass usually occurs when the seals are broken, there are other factors to consider that can affect the insulation performance of your windows even if the seals are intact, such as:

• The insulating qualities of the argon gas used between layers of glass diminishes over time as it slowly leaks out at a rate of about 1% per year, which can cause a reduction in the insulating value of windows.
• Newer windows can be ordered with Low-E coatings designed for your climate that can reduce energy loss by as much as 30%-50%.
• The weather stripping around your windows may have become worn, allowing air leakage.
• Newer vinyl clad wood frames insulate better than older metal frames.

The bottom line is that replacing your windows (or the glass in them), may increase the insulation value, but you will have to weigh the savings against the cost incurred.

Related posts:

• How to Select Insulated Windows
• Installing Storm Windows on Insulated Glass
• Installing Window Film on Insulated Glass

This 3,600-square-foot, eco-friendly home in Fairhope, Alabama, was developed by architect Bob Chatham of the Chatham Design Group and builder Jeremy Friedman of Kaloosa Builders to showcase practical green building techniques.

The Fairhope Green Home Project is the first house in the state to receive Gold Certification from the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Program which requires standards for water conservation, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and the use of sustainable and recycled materials. Due to all the energy efficient techniques used in the home, the power bill is expected to average only a bit over $70 a month.

Advantages of a Green Home

While it costs more to construct an energy efficient home, there are many benefits to be gained from the additional investment including:

• Lower utility bills to operate the home.
• Health benefits from improved air quality.
• Overall positive benefits for the environment as a whole.

Heart pine flooring resawn from old beams.

Using Recycled Materials

Recycled materials—including heart pine flooring sawn from old beams and doors made from antique cypress—are an important component of the home. A pecan tree that had to be removed from the site was sawn into lumber at a small local sawmill for use as beams and mantels in the house. In addition to custom sawing, Roy Hyde, the operator of the sawmill, also fashions the wood he cuts into unique furniture and millwork.

Handmade furniture crafted from salvaged trees by local woodworker Roy Hyde.

Environmentally Friendly Sheathing

The walls and roof were sheathed with the Zip System from Huber Engineered Woods, which is made from wood certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The panels are covered with a moisture resistant coating and joints between them are sealed with formaldehyde free adhesive strips. This not only makes for very tight house construction but eliminates the need for house wrap and felt paper.

Zip System wall sheathing and roof decking from Huber Engineered Woods

Geothermal Heat Pump

A geothermal heat pump made by WaterFurnace was installed to heat and cool the Fairhope Green Home Project. Geothermal heat pumps extract heat from water pumped from wells, making them much more efficient than standard air source heat pumps. The excess heat generated by geothermal pumps can also be used to provide much of the hot water in the home.

Foam Insulation for Energy Efficiency

To further reduce the home’s heating and cooling bills, Icynene Foam Insulation was sprayed in the walls and between the rafters in the attic. This can reduce the heating and cooling loss by 60% to 70%. The additional cost of foam insulation is recouped by energy savings in 3-5 years for new construction.

When using standard fiberglass insulation to insulate your home, be sure a face the paper or foil vapor barrier toward the inside of the home (down in attics, up under floors) to prevent condensation from occurring. If an additional layer of fiberglass insulation is applied to your attic, use unfaced insulation on top of the existing insulation.

Reducing Building Waste

Every effort was made to make the actual building process as eco-friendly as possible. This included a waste management plan that recycled or reused over 70% of the waste created on the jobsite. Any remaining scrap lumber was ground up and used as mulch around the home.

Waste wood being ground into mulch for use in planting beds.

Green Landscaping

Other eco-friendly aspects of the landscaping for the home included the use of native plants, which are better suited to the local environment and require less water, pesticides, and fertilizer. A permeable base of reclaimed concrete was installed under the flagstone patio to allow it to serve as a natural drainage area for the backyard. Mondo grass was planted between the stones to further increase absorbency.

Pervious flagstone patio planted with mondo grass.

The SmartLine irrigation system from Weathermatic employs water saving sprinkler heads and has a built-in weather station that monitors the moisture in the air to reduce unnecessary watering.

Water Conservation

Conserving water was an important consideration inside the home as well. Low-flow sinks and showerheads where used throughout the kitchen and bathrooms, along with water saving dual-flush toilets.

Eco-Friendly Furnishings

Even the furnishings in the home were made from environmentally friendly materials. Rugs made use of vegetable dyes while furniture was constructed using soy based cushions covered by natural fabrics such as linen, cotton, and bamboo.

Further Information

• Plans for the Fairhope Green Home Project can be viewed or purchased at the Chatham Design Group website.
• Additional information about the Fairhope Green Home Project is available on the Green Building in Fairhope website.
• Find a wealth of information on eco-friendly living at Your Green Home.

Other Tips from This Episode

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• (702) Four Step Energy Makeover: How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
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Who Can Qualify?

Taxpayers who make energy efficiency improvements to their home during 2009 and 2010 using approved products can apply for a credit on their 2009 or 2010 federal income tax returns. A few of the improvements also qualify for a tax credit when installed on primary, rental, or second homes through 2016.

While the energy efficiency improvement tax credit can reduce the amount you owe on your federal income tax to zero, you won’t receive a larger refund than the total amount of income tax you paid for the year. In other words, if you will already receive a full refund of your federal income tax, you will not benefit from the energy efficiency improvement tax credit.

What Home Improvements Qualify?

In order for an improvement to be eligible for a tax credit, the product used must meet certain government established criteria for energy efficiency and come with a Manufacturer Certification Statement indicating that it qualified.

There are two basic categories of tax credits, each of which allow you to deduct 30% of the cost of the improvement, depending on the type of energy saving products you install:

• Products that have a maximum tax credit limit of $1,500.
• Products with no maximum limit.

$1,500 Tax Credit

The following energy saving home improvements are eligible for a tax credit of 30% of the cost of the improvement, with a maximum limit of $1,500 for both years combined. So to receive all of the tax credit, you would need to spend a total of $5,000. Improvements must be completed and put into service between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 to qualify. You may lump several different energy saving improvements together in the tax credit. Products must be installed on an existing home that serves as the taxpayer’s primary residence. Qualified improvements include:

• Insulation
• Windows and storm windows
• Exterior doors and storm doors
• Skylights
• Energy efficient HVAC systems and furnaces
• Garage doors
• Heat reflective roofing
• Energy efficient hot water heaters
• Biomass stoves (wood and pellet)

30% Unlimited Tax Credit

The following improvements are eligible for a 30% tax credit with no maximum limit. The work must be completed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2016. Unlike the $1,500 credit, improvements can be to a primary residence, rental home, or second home. Also, both new construction and existing homes are eligible. Qualified improvements include:

• Geothermal heat pumps
• Solar hot water heaters
• Photovoltaic power systems
• Residential wind energy systems

Product Requirements

To best way to be sure that the products you install meet the requirements for the energy efficiency tax credit is to obtain a Manufacturer Certification Statement stating that they qualify. Here are some general guidelines for each type of product.

Insulation

To qualify for a tax credit, insulation must:

• Be primarily used for insulation purposes.
• Be expected to last at least 5 years or carry a 2-year warrenty.
• Meet 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) guidelines.

NOTE: Only material costs qualify for the tax credit on insulation. Installation costs are not covered.

Windows, Doors, and Skylights

To qualify for a tax credit, the NFRC approved label on the product must state that it has:

• U-Factor of 0.30 or less.
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30 or less.

Deciding whether storm windows and storm doors qualify is more complicated, since their energy efficiency ratings must be combined with the IECC rating and climate zone of the window or door they cover.

NOTE: Only material costs qualify for the tax credit on windows, storm windows, doors, storm doors, and skylights. Installation costs are not covered.

Heating and Air Conditioning Systems

To qualify for a tax credit, HVAC systems must meet the following minimum energy efficiency rating or higher for Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF), and Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE):

• Split Air Conditioner: EER 13 & SEER 16.
• Package Air Conditioner: EER 12 & SEER 14.
• Split Heat Pump: EER 12.5, SEER 15, & HSPF 8.5.
• Package Heat Pump: EER 12, SEER 14, & HSPF 8.
• Gas or Propane Furnace: AFUE 95.
• Oil Furnace: AFUE 90.
• Gas, Propane, or Oil Hot Water Boiler: AFUE 90.
• Geothermal Heat Pump: Must meet Energy Star requirements.
• Biomass Stove: Thermal efficiency rating of 75%.

NOTE: Both installation and material costs qualify for the tax credit on heating and cooling systems.

Garage Doors

To qualify for a tax credit, a garage door must:

• Be installed on an insulated garage.
• Have a U-Factor of 0.30 or less.
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30 or less.

NOTE: Only material costs qualify for the tax credit on garage doors. Installation costs are not covered.

Heat Reflective Roofing

In order to qualify for a tax credit, roofing must:

• Meet government Energy Star requirements for heat reflective roofing.
• Be expected to last at least 5 years or carry a 2-year warrenty.

NOTE: Only material costs qualify for a tax credit on roofing. Installation costs are not covered.

Hot Water Heaters

To qualify for a tax credit, hot water heaters must:

• Gas, Oil, or Propane Water Heater: All Energy Star approved tankless models. No storage tank models qualify.
• Electric Heat Pump Water Heater: Energy Star approved models.
• Solar Water Heater: Energy Star approved models that are not used for swimming pools or hot tubs.

NOTE: Both installation and material costs qualify for the tax credit on hot water heaters.

Solar and Wind Power Systems

In order to qualify for a tax credit, solar and wind powers systems must:

• Provide electricity for the residence.
• Meet required fire and electrical code requirements.

NOTE: Both installation and material costs qualify for the tax credit on solar and wind power systems.

Products that Do Not Qualify

The following items are not covered under the tax credit:

• Ceiling fans
• Clothes washers and dryers
• Dishwashers
• Electric tankless water heaters
• Programmable thermostats
• Refrigerators
• Room air conditioners

For more information on whether a product qualifies for the energy efficiency tax credit, contact the manufacturer. For detailed tax information, contact the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-1040 or your tax accountant.

Further Information

• Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency (Energy Star)
• Consumer Energy Tax Incentives (Dept. of Energy)
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (EERE)

Related posts:

• On the Road for Energy Efficiency
• (702) Four Step Energy Makeover: How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
• How to Claim the Federal Tax Credit for New Homeowners