Building Energy Efficient Homes

In the home building industry there are constantly changing trends. Items like the hottest new paint color, flooring material, open concept building and so on. We use the classification of trends because they seem to have a limited lifespan until the next hot thing comes in style. What we are more focused on is the direction of the home building industry, which is going to have more staying power. This is where things like building energy efficient homes come into play. Homes continue to be built to higher and higher efficiency levels. Some of this is directed by local and national codes but it is also driven by consumer demand as buyers become more educated on the efficiency of their homes.

More and more of the nation’s leading builders are now making a commitment to building energy efficient homes through the ENERGY STAR® home program. In order to certify a home as ENERGY STAR® there is a stringent list of requirements the builder must meet. This includes almost every aspect of the building process including things that probably won’t surprise you such as windows, doors, insulation, appliances and the HVAC system. What you might not know is that it also includes items such as the ducting, air filtration and ventilation fans of the home. All of these requirements must be confirmed through an independent rater/inspector for the home to receive the final sign off. This is comforting to the homebuyer, as they will have peace of mind that the home is going to perform as advertised.

So why is this a direction and not just a trend. We will get right to it – money. While there are a lot of extra benefits to using less energy (reducing our carbon footprint, using less resources…), the big one from a homeowner’s standpoint is a reduced utility bill. An energy efficient home can reduce the monthly utility bills considerably. According to ENERGY STAR®, a certified home will use up to 30% more energy than a traditionally built home. To put that in perspective, if your utility bills are $300 a month, a certified home would reduce that to $210. That is a saving of $1,080 per year. According to the Redfin the typical US homeowner stays in their home for about 12 years, meaning a savings of about $13,000. Additionally, the home will have better resale value.

Another aspect of building energy efficient homes is there is a movement that is gaining support that in order to qualify for a FHA mortgage, the home must be ENERGY STAR® certified. ENERGY STAR® already has a program called Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) that helps homebuyers qualify for purchasing a home as it considers that the monthly cost to maintain the home will be less, allowing more to be used to pay off the loan. While these programs are not yet mandatory, the direction they are going looks as if they will be in the near future. The good news is the major builders are already identifying this and are getting ahead of the game, committing to building certified homes.

To learn more about building trends/directions or other industry news, makes sure to read Air King’s other blog posts. To learn more about Air King’s ENERGY STAR® certified ventilation and fresh air intake solutions and how they can be implemented into building energy efficient homes visit airkinglimited.com

A Tight Home Versus Proper Ventilation

When you think of age-old rivalries or battles your mind might go to sports teams or one state versus another but it probably doesn’t go to tight home versus proper ventilation one. That’s understandable, but in the building world it is one that is gaining traction. Let's first look at each side of the battle and get a working knowledge of them.

A Tight Home

A tight home refers to how well the exterior envelope of the home is resistant to air penetration. The tighter the home, the less air it lets in or out. Most people refer to air penetration as “drafts”. In some homes you can feel the cold air in the wintertime seeping into the home. That would not be a tight house. Building technology has come a long way and with the advent of spray foam, house wraps and so forth homes are a lot tighter than they used to be. The reason a tight house is beneficial is that it will hold the warm air inside during the winter and the cool air inside during the summer. This has a direct impact by reducing the heating and cooling costs. Seems like a simple solution and we can end the article here. Well there are some downsides to a tight home. We’ll get to them a little later.

Proper Ventilation

Proper ventilation contributes to the overall indoor air quality of your home. In simple terms it is taking the bad air and contaminates out of the home and replacing it with fresh and/or filtered air. This is accomplished using items like exhaust fans, kitchen range hoods and a fresh air supply unit. So what’s the problem and how is this a battle with a tight home?

The Battle

The battle comes in that homes are being built to do everything they can to not allow air to enter or leave the home. Exhaust fans and fresh air intake are meant to do exactly that. On the tight home side of things, the argument is that you are taking conditioned air and exhausting it out. The same with bringing air into the home, causing extra stress on the HVAC system. This is a valid point, however we need to examine it a bit closer. 

Studies have found that the air inside a home can be up to 5 times more polluted than outside air. How does it get so polluted? Our normal living produces a lot of contaminants. Just think of your typical day. You wake up and take a shower. The shower produces moisture that if left unresolved can turn into mildew or mold. Then you go to the kitchen for breakfast and your morning coffee. Guess what cooking and making coffee does – yep, produces contaminates. Oh and by the way, unless you are holding your breath during all this, breathing produces CO2 that can build up in your home. We are barely alive and haven’t even gotten out of our pajamas (might be a slight exaggeration). Add in pets, cleaners, candles and a hundred more things and you can see how the air can become so polluted.

The solution

So we don’t want to exhaust conditioned air out or bring unconditioned air in, but we also need to get all the bad things out of the house. So what do we do? Here is where we try to make sense of everything. The energy efficiency side is always going to argue for less and the indoor air quality side is always going to argue for more. What we need to strive for is a balance. For most homes, as little as 30 to 50 CFM of exhaust during normal activity is all that is needed. When a shower or the cooktop is in use – a bit more is needed. The key to all of this is that when you utilize mechanical solutions (exhaust fans and air intake units) you are in control. You determine how much, when and where the air comes in or leaves. So instead of annoying drafts, you can direct the air how you want it.

Another way to counteract the energy usage is to utilize energy efficient exhaust fans and air intake units. There are a plenty of models currently on the market that will meet the air movement needed and fit within the budget.

Hopefully this gives you a better understanding of the balance between good indoor air quality and energy efficiency. So the next time you are tempted to not utilize your exhaust fans because you’re worried about “wasting” energy, remember that your indoor air quality is also very important.

For more information about indoor air quality please read through the many blog post Air King has created over the years. For more information about exhaust fans, range hoods or fresh air intake, visit airkiinglimiited.com

Want to Save Energy and a Few Dollars?

Now that we are in the heart of the summer almost all of us are seeing those energy bills skyrocket upwards. So how do we save energy without spending a ton of money to do so? Thankfully there are a few easy and cost effective things we can do that are little to no cost.

Windows

While replacing older windows with ENERGY STAR certified ones is a great way to save money, it can be really expensive. A simple way to help is to utilize curtains or shades. Make sure they are closed when the hot sun is out. This will help to deflect some of the heat coming in. This technique can also be utilized in the winter except you keep the curtains open to let the heat in instead of keeping it out. Best part about this is it cost no money (assuming you already have curtains or shades in place).

Thermostat

In the summer time raising the temperature a couple of degrees can have a big effect on your cooling costs. A great way to offset the higher temperature is to utilize a portable fan or your ceiling fans. While these fans do use energy it is significantly less that your HVAC unit. While portable fans won’t technically cool the room, the air movement makes it feel cooler (you can read our blog – Do Fans Cool for more info). If you already have the portable fans, this is an no cost way to save.

Exhaust

If you are in an area where the nighttime temperatures drop to a comfortable level, exhausting all of the hot air out of the home and replacing it with the cool outdoor air is a great options. The best option is if you have a window fan that is powerful enough to exhaust the entire home like the Air King 9166. You can either bring the cooler air in or exhaust the hot indoor air out. If you have a box fan or other type of fan, this can be utilized as well. ONE CAUTION – make sure the fan you are using is rated for use in a window and never use a fan if it is raining. Depending on if you have fans or not, this can be a no added cost option. If you do need to buy a fan, the prices can range from small to significant.

Water Heater

This might seem like an odd one but a majority of water heaters are not set correctly. Does your hot water get to a temperature that is so hot you can’t handle it? This probably means it is set too high and you are paying to over heat the water. If it is too hot, you can adjust the top temperature of the water heater, which will save you money. This might take some trial and error to get it right but it will be worth it in the end. Going away for a week? Turn the temperature down considerably so you are not heating water you will never use. NOTE: make sure to remember to turn the temperature back up when you return. Once again this is a zero cost to you item you can do.

Light Bulbs

This is one that we have suggested in many of our other blog posts but it still holds try. While there is a cost to this, it is worth it to replace any incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs with LED. LED bulbs use a fraction of the energy and in general last a lot longer.

These are just a few things that can save energy and save you money. We would love to hear your ideas.

To learn more about Air King air circulator fans including window fans use the menu bar at the top of the page. Also read through our other energy saving blog posts.

Top Energy Saving Investments

Each year on April 22nd we celebrate Earth Day. While a day of celebration is great, Earth Day should really be everyday. We are going to stop and take a look at some of the top energy saving investments you can make and put real numbers behind them.

Whenever you talk about energy saving investments there is a tendency to jump right to the investment part. It is true in some cases the upfront cost is going to be high, but not always. You have to weigh all factors – cost, how long are you planning to live there (2 years, 10 years, 50 years….) and so on. Armed with that info, let's jump into it.

1. Light bulbs. Here is an easy one with a small upfront cost. Changing a 60-watt incandescent bulb to an 8 watt LED bulb. For our comparison we are going to use a bulb that you would have on for approximately 5 hours a day. A 60-watt bulb will use 0.3 kilowatts per day. At $0.13 per kilowatt (average for the US at the time of this post), that is $14 per year that bulb costs. Now use those same numbers but with an 8 watt LED and the cost is $2 per year. Currently a 60-watt bulb costs about $1.00 while a LED is about $2.00. So with our math the payback for switching to an LED is about 1 month. As an added bonus LEDs can last 5 to 10 times longer than incandescent. These numbers are for one bulb, now times that by the amount of bulbs you have in your home.
2. Water Heater. This is a bigger one and one that is best done when it is time to replace it. We are not suggesting ripping out the one you just put in 2 or 3 years ago. We are going to compare a 40-gallon standard electric water heater to a high efficiency unit with a heat pump. A standard water heater is approximately $500 for the water heater itself. A high efficiency version is about $1,150. The upfront cost is going to be considerably higher but lets look at the numbers. The average electric cost of a standard unit is about $30 a month or $360 per year. A high efficiency unit is about $12 a month and $144 per year. So right there you are saving $216 per year. That would make up the difference in cost in just over 3 years. The standard life expectancy of a water heater is 10 years. It gets even better. Currently many utility companies and states are offering rebates for high efficiency units. You might be able to make up the difference in cost immediately depending on how much the rebates are.
3. Cars. Everyone always wants to know about cars. Is it worth getting a hybrid or an all electric? As with many decisions there isn’t one clear answer. We took a major car brand and compared the standard model, hybrid and electric versions. All calculations are based on 12,000 miles per year and $3.00 per gallon of gas. We also based everything off the MSRP of the car and did not factor in any rebates or tax credits that may be available for electric cars. Unfortunately we are not going to give you a yes/no answer, but here are our calculations that will hopefully help guide you: Standard model price $25,000, 32 MPG. Hybrid model price $26,500, 48 MPG. Electric model price $33,500. Breaking this down:
1. Standard: 12,000 miles divided by 32 = 375 gallons of gas. 375 times $3.00 = $1,125 per year for gas.
2. Hybrid: 12,000 miles divided by 48 = 250 gallons of gas. 250 times $3.00 = $750 per year for gas.
3. Electric: $0 per year for gas.
4. Conclusion: Based just on price you can make up the difference in cost between a standard model and hybrid in about 4 years. For a fully electric car it is about 7.5 years (this can be greatly reduced if rebates or tax credits are available). There is also the environmental benefit of reducing the carbon output from your vehicle. Going from a 30 MPG car to an electric can save about 12,000 lbs. of green house gases per year.
4. Programmable thermostat (or smart thermostat). These are a great and simple way to reduce your energy usage. Depending on you work and living habits, you can save between 10% and 30% on your heating and cooling a year. If your average cost is $100.00 per month, that is a $10.00 savings per month. Now factor that a programmable thermostat or a smart thermostat is going to cost between $60.00 for a standard one and up to about $200.00 for a more advanced one, it could pay for itself in one to two years. Some local utility companies offer discounts or rebates on these as well.

Hopefully this gives you some “real world” information about energy saving investments you can make while still making the costs make sense. When all the numbers line up; it is a win for the environment, a win for you and a win for the future. To learn more about saving energy, visit energystar.gov or the climate change section of the Air King website.

Saving Energy During a Pandemic

As working from home and schooling from home continues to be the norm, a side effect can be higher energy usage and bills. Having two, three, ten computers running, every light in the home plus increased pressure on the HVAC system can quickly add up. Here are a few tips to keep the energy usage down.

Use LED Lights

With an increased need for lighting, it is even more critical that the most energy efficient types of bulbs be used. LED bulbs are over 75% more efficient than standard bulbs. Stop and think how many and how long your lights are on during a day, then think about how much you can save if they were LEDs. While switching to LED bulbs is a huge savings, turning off lights is even better.

Location, Location, Location

Typically you hear this term in the real estate business, but it holds very true when working and schooling from home. If possible choose a location in your home that has plenty of natural light. This will allow you to turn off the lights as we mentioned above. Another consideration is with many families converting spaces into offices or schoolrooms, it is important to be strategic on placement. Make sure not to cover up HVAC vents or returns that would cause the system to have to work harder. Shared spaces can be difficult, especially if interactive meetings are taking place. If possible, having everyone in one room can save energy by only needing to condition and light one room rather that multiple rooms throughout the home.

Use Portable Fans

In many cases, all that is needed to keep the room comfortable is either a portable fan in the warmer months or a portable heater in the cooler months. These use a fraction of the electricity that your HVAC unit needs. Air King and Lasko offer a wide range of residential and light commercial options.

Turn Items Off

If you have children, then you have probably at one point in your life (or every 10 minutes) walked into an empty room that has every light in that room turned on. No matter how many times you tell them to turn the lights off when they leave the room, there it is – every light still turned on. For sanity sake, just accept the fact that your job as a parent is to follow them around and turn the lights off. Turing lights off however are just one way to keep the energy usage down. Turning off other items such as computer and monitors when not in use can have a positive effect also. Most electronics nowadays have some sort of energy savings mode (sleep mode) but even in these modes, they are still using energy. Turing electronics completely off when not in use is the best way to save. Another consideration is once the workday or school day is complete, turn everything off and get away from them. This will save energy and give your eyes and body a break. How many times have you or your children finished a full day of online school or work meetings just to leave the computer and go right to the TV to binge watch the new series. Try going for a walk or having a cup of coffee outside (making sure to turn the lights off before you leave).

Washing

Being home most of the day can lead to some habits that could be costing you in energy usage. Things like doing laundry can have a large effect. There might be the temptation to do a small load of laundry each day instead of waiting for a full load. We absolutely get it that doing laundry for most people is not on the top ten list of enjoyable activities in the home. Doing smaller loads throughout the week instead of one big laundry day might be preferred but it will more than likely come at a cost of using a noticeably more amount of energy. Air-drying clothes will save a significant amount of energy. It will also get you out of the house and away from the screen. If you turn off the lights when you leave, you now have hit on multiple energy saving tips with one activity! Washing dishes is similar to clothes. A dishwasher’s energy efficiency is predicated on running full loads. Avoiding the temptation of running the dishwasher after every meal will save energy.

For more tips on how to save energy within the home visit www.airkinglimited.com or the ENERGY STAR® website at www.energystar.gov

The Code Game

Across the country builders, contractors, and home improvements professionals have a challenge they have to meet on projects – code compliance.

Let's start with the basics – What is a Code when it refers to the building industry? A code is a set of regulations to ensure items such as the safety of the building, energy efficiency, air quality, comfort or more. A code will have minimum standards that must be met to pass an inspection. There are national codes and local codes and they are just like they sound. National codes must be met across the United States while local codes are specific to a region. For instance, a home built in Florida will have specific codes to prevent damage from hurricanes. A home in say Iowa will not have those same codes as they are a bit less likely to experience a hurricane (according to our research the last hurricane that almost made it to Iowa was Galveston in 1900 and it was only a Tropical Depression by the time it hit).

A challenge building professionals have is that the codes are always changing. As the industry becomes more knowledgeable about things like Indoor Air Quality, efficiency, construction techniques, and so forth codes are updated to incorporate that knowledge. You can see this very clearly by comparing the construction techniques of a home built today versus one built 10, 30, 50 years ago. For instance, one a lot of people are familiar with is knob and tube wiring. Back in the day, this was the building code. Now we know a lot better and have much safer ways to wire homes.

What do you do if your home is not up to code? This depends on what is not up to code. Most codes have a grandfather clause in them and as long as you are not doing a major renovation, you have nothing to worry about. An inspector is not going to come to your home and kick you out because you need another millimeter of insulation to meet the current code. With that being said, there are ones you might want to do. Generally, these are focused on safety or comfort. We were talking about knob and tube wiring before. That is an item that you should consider bringing up to code as there is a real safety aspect to it. Something like the insulation might be a consideration because it will reduce your energy costs and comfort.

At this point you are probably asking, “What are the codes in my area?” That is a great question. Here is where we are going to disappoint you – sorry. There are thousands of codes across the country and without making this blog thousands of pages long, we just can’t put them all in one place. If you search for “Building codes in (put your state or county here)” you can generally find long complicated lists. Really, the best way is to consult a trusted building professional. It is their job to be versed on the latest building codes. Before starting any DIY project, it is a good idea to find out if there are any codes that need to be followed. While you might not have any issues at the time, it could affect the sale of your home if an inspection shows that something was not done to code. Generally, these are bigger items (additions, removing walls, electrical and so forth) and they most of the time require some type of permit to complete. Again, it is best to check with a building professional or the local building inspector just to be safe.

We will mention one national code that most effects building ventilation - ASHRAE 62.2. We have explored this code in one way or another in many of our previous blog posts. ASHREA 62.2 focuses on how and how much ventilation your home needs. There are specifics to the type and duration of exhaust fans as well as bringing fresh outside air into the home. Air King offers an array of exhaust fans, range hoods, and fresh air machines to comply and exceed the ASHREA 62.2 standards.

To learn more about Air King’s solutions visit www.airkinglimited.com. Air King also provides more information about ASHREA 62.2 in the Learning Center area of the website.

Room-By-Room Home Audit - Part 4, The Rest

We are continuing our series on making your home more efficient and comfortable. Last time we went through items in the Mechanical Room. We finish up the series by looking at the other areas of the home. While the first three areas (Kitchen, Bathroom and Mechanical Room) might have the “big ticket” items that can make a significant impact, there are other areas of the home we don’t want to forget. Here are a few:

1.     Clothes Washers: As we have mentioned with other larger items like furnaces or water heaters, it would be great if everyone went out and replaced their unit with an ENERGY STAR® certified one. We know that is not a practical solution but there are ways to increase the efficiency of your current one:

a.     Fill it Up – Clothes washers use about the same amount of energy regardless of the load, so run full loads whenever possible.

b.     Wash in Cold Water – Water heating consumes about 90% of the energy it takes to operate a washer. Unless you are dealing with oily stains, washing in cold water will generally get the job done. Even switching from Hot to warm will cut energy usage in half.

c.     Avoid the sanitary cycle – Unless it is absolutely necessary, avoid using the super hot cycle as it increases the energy usage significantly.

d.     Activate the high spin speed option – If your current washer has a high-speed spin cycle, use it. This will remove more moisture from the clothes, reducing the drying time.

e.      If it is time to replace your washer, look for an energy efficient model. Considering how often you use your washer, spending a little more up front could have a large impact on your energy bills of the long run.

2.     Clothes Dryer: As with the washer, it would be great if everyone replaced their dryer with a high-efficiency one but again that might not be practical. Here are some things you can do:

a.     Sensor Drying – If your dryer has a sensor mode, use that instead of timed drying. If set properly, this will ensure that the dryer is not running longer than it needs to.

b.     Low Heat Setting – Longer drying cycles on a low heat setting will actually use less energy than a short, higher heat cycle.

c.      Clean the lint filter – The lint filter should be cleaned after every load to improve the air circulation as well as the safety of using the dryer. You should also regularly check the dryer outlet where it is exhausting to the outdoors to make sure lint has not built up there. This will decrease the airflow and cause the dryer to take longer to dry the clothes.

3.     Lighting: What type of bulbs do you have installed around your home? Switching to ENERGY STAR certified LEDs could save up to 90% in energy costs. When choosing a LED make sure you choose one that fits your lighting needs. For instance, you might want to choose one that is closer to natural light rather than a warm light, especially if you will be doing things like applying make-up.

4.     Audio Video: When it comes to our TV’s, DVD players, computers and so forth, we can think that their energy usage is insignificant compared to everything else. These items can account for around 12% of the total amount of energy used in the home. Switching to ENERGY STAR labeled models can save up to 70%. Here are a couple of other tips:

a.     Turn it off – When not in use, turn it off. Sounds simple, but think of how many times you leave the TV on when no one is in the room or your computer is on when not in use. Energy Saving modes are great and should definitely be used, but to save even more energy, turn them off.

b.     Unplug – Almost all electronics are using energy when they are plugged in regardless if they are actively running or not. Unplugging them when not in use cuts that standby energy use off. Yes, it is sometimes not practical to always unplug everything, especially the cable box where it needs to reboot once it is plugged back in but it is something to consider if you will be away for any length of time.

To learn more about ways to make your home more efficient, saving money and energy, visit www.airkinglimited.com or www.energystar.gov (Many of the facts and figures throughout this series have been taken from the ENERGY STAR website.)

Room-By-Room Home Audit - Part 3, The Mechanical Room

We are continuing our series on making your home more efficient and comfortable.

Last time we went through items in the kitchen. Now we are moving to the mechanical room, which is just a fancy term for where your items like the furnace and water heater are located. These items can make a large impact on the efficiency of the home. Here are a few ways to improve:

1.     Heating (furnace)/Air Conditioner Unit: Sure it would be great if everyone went out and replaced their unit with a high-efficiency one. We know that is not a practical solution but there are ways to increase the efficiency of your current one:

a.     Have your unit serviced by a professional. They will be able to make sure it is operating at optimal efficiency as well as prolong the life.

b.     Change Air Filters regularly. This will be dependent on how often the unit is running but a good rule of thumb is to change them at least every 3 months. An easy way to remember is to change them every season.

c.      Check the thermostat. While this is technically not located in the mechanical room, we are including it here because it controls the items in this room. Installing a programmable thermostat or a smart thermostat can really impact your heating and cooling costs. These thermostats will adjust to your living, keeping the home comfortable while you are there and then adjusting the temperature and energy usage when you are away.

d.     If it is time to replace your unit, make sure you talk to your installer about the efficiency of what they want to replace it with.  You might need to spend a little more up front, but considering how much your HVAC system is used, that extra money spent for a more efficient unit will more than pay itself off in the long run.

2.     Water Heater: As with the furnace, it would be great if everyone replaced their water heater with a high-efficiency one but again that might not be practical. Here are some things you can do:

a.     Set the temperature to 120 degrees or lower. This way the heater is not overheating the water – wasting energy.

b.     Many new water heaters have significant insulation built into the unit. If you have an older one, consider wrapping the unit with an approved insulating product (usually available at your local home improvement center).

c.      Turn the temperature down when you are away. If you are going on vacation, turn the heater to the lowest setting. Just remember to turn it back up once you return.

d.     Insulate hot water pipes. This will reduce the amount of time and water you need to run before you get hot water.

e.     If it is time to replace your unit, make sure you talk to your installer about the efficiency of what they want to replace it with. Like the furnace, you might need to spend a little more up front, but considering how much your water heater is used, that extra money spent for a more efficient unit will more than pay itself off in the long run.

f.      HVAC Joke – Don’t call it a Hot Water Heater, just refer to it as a water heater. If you do call it a “Hot Water Heater”, you will get the reply – “If it is already hot water, why do you need a heater?”

3.     Fresh Air: Newer homes are being built to a much higher insulation level – this is a good thing. You might hear it called a “Tight” house. Basically, it means that drafts are eliminated. While this is very good for the heating and cooling of the home, it presents a problem for bringing fresh air into the home. In tight homes, a source of fresh air is needed. Many builders are bringing that fresh air in through the mechanical room. Some units utilize the HVAC system, some work independently (such as the Air King FAS and QFAM units). Things to look for in fresh air or make-up air systems include:

a.     What is the efficiency? These units run continuously or for large parts of the day, so you want to make sure the energy being used is minimum.

b.     How does the unit bring the air into the home? Does it need the HVAC to be running? This can be a big one. Even with higher efficiency HVAC units, the fan used to push the air through the home can be very inefficient so if the unit bringing the fresh air in needs to kick this on to operate, it can reduce the overall efficiency.

c.      What type of controls are in place? Does the unit have systems in place that limit the temperature of the air coming in (too cold or too hot)? The Air King QFAM has a controller that can be set for temperature and humidity levels.

Don’t miss our next post when we will take a look at other areas of the home.

To learn more about ways to make your home more efficient, saving money and energy, visit www.airkinglimited.com.