A Home Energy Workshop. Developed by Central Vermont Community Action Council In partnership with Efficiency Vermont.

A Home Energy Workshop

Developed by Central Vermont Community Action Council

In partnership with Efficiency Vermont

What will we learn today?

• Why should we Button Up Vermont?• What are the energy conservation and

efficiency opportunities?• How can we improve buildings?• What can you do? • Resources to help you Button Up.

Why should we Button Up Vermont?

Vermont’s energy situation

Provided by Vermont Public Interest Research Group

Annual cost to heat by fuel type

Why Button Up?

What are the big energy users in your home?

• The building – Your building itself wastes energy!

• The equipment – You can switch equipment to get more bang for your buck with efficient technologies.

• The people – How you manage your consumption affects how much energy you use.

The Big Three

What are the energy saving opportunities?

• Invest in improving your building – and you’ll see permanent changes in your energy use

• When it’s time to switch appliances and heating systems, look for more efficient models

• Train yourself (and use the right tools) to reduce your daily consumption

Opportunities

• You have to start where it works for your life

• Changing behaviors (thermostat, sweaters, using the fan)

• Changing equipment• Doing home improvements

– Yourself or with a contractor

• Adding new technology

It’s all about you

How buildings waste heat

• Warm air pushes upward through holes at the top of house, creating negative pressure that sucks in cold air through holes at the bottom

Air leaks drive heat loss

Improving the building

• Find the leaks

• Seal the leaks

• Improve the insulation

• Improve ventilation

• Address health & safety

Common leaks in Vermont homes

Image courtesy of US EPA

Effects of air leakage

• Air leaking into the attic wastes heat, melts snow, and causes roof ice. Moisture condenses and promotes mold growth.

Blower door to detect air leakage

An energy audit will:• Find where air is leaking

– Using a blower door test to help quantify air leakage

• Prioritize air sealing– Start with the worst leaks

Image courtesy Energy Conservatory.

Air sealing creates an air barrier

Stops air leaks that are coming through theattic and basement –

“The Shell” or “Windbreaker”

Photo courtesy of GoAbout Photography

Air sealing priorities

• Attic – you can stop warm air leaking out• Basement – you can stop cold air being

sucked in• Center level of house – can be tough to

work on and costly

Thermal imaging

Can be used to look for areas of heat loss.

– Using Infrared (IR) Thermography can provide an accurate picture of temperature differences in your building

Insulation creates a thermal barrier

• Insulation helps your home resist conductive heat loss.

• “The Sweater” – but is less effective if air flows through it

Photo courtesy of GoAbout Photography

Conduction and R-Values

• R-values measure a material’s resistance to conductive heat transfer

• Materials with higher resistance to heat transfer have higher R-values (commonly called “insulation”)

• Materials with lower resistance to heat transfer have low R-values, such as glass, steel, concrete, wood, and wallboard

Add insulation• After air sealing, add insulation to

achieve recommended R-values, where feasible

• The thermal barrier (“Sweater”) should always be in contact with air barrier (“Windbreaker”)

Photo courtesy of GoAbout Photography

Why health and safety matter

• Your house is a system! A professional will test and correct any issues with:– Carbon monoxide caused by incomplete

burning – Moisture and mold which can cause health

and building problems. – Backdrafting: combustion gases coming back

in your house– Other health and safety issues

Resources to help you Button Up

Plan the work, work the plan

1. Get an energy assessmentUnderstand what’s happening in YOUR house

Make the plan that works for you

2: Make changes as they make sense for youChange what you can now (thermostat, light bulbs)

Switch when you have to replace or fix

Save for or finance your building upgrades

Do it yourself or hire a contractor to do it all

3: Save and invest – As you make improvements, put your energy savings aside for the next step on your plan

It all starts with getting an energy assessment

An energy assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of your home’s:

– Air leakage– Insulation levels– Heating system safety– Appliance efficiency and safety

An energy report includes:– Professional advice on ways to improve the comfort and durability of

your home with cost estimates– Assistance in prioritizing energy efficiency improvements to fit your

budget

What does it cost?• Saving 20-30% on heating can cost anywhere

from $5,000-$10,000• Vermont’s Weatherization Assistance Program

provides free energy improvements for income-eligible households.

• Efficiency Vermont’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program provides access to incentives:– Professional Contractor– Do-It-Yourself

Home energy audits average approximately $400/home

How do you pay for improvements?

• Incentives from Efficiency Vermont & Federal tax credits provide some money back.

• PACE program (in participating towns)• Use savings or home equity line of credit• NeighborWorks Alliance of Vermont: low

interest loans for income-qualified homeowners

What about renewable energy?

• Efficiency first, then renewable energy• Solar energy: includes passive solar

design for space heating, hot water, and electrical needs

• Biomass – wood pellets and cordwood• Small-scale wind – limited applications• Incentives available on renewables as well

• Understand what’s happening with your house: invest in an energy assessment

• Practice no-cost energy conservation• Invest in low-cost efficiency options• Make a plan for reducing your home

energy use• Choose the path that’s right for you

Button Up to do list

Thank you!