Sustainability Spotlight - October 2022 - Winter is Coming, Time to Consider Home Energy Efficiency Updates
Building emissions and electricity generation are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. The EPA estimates that 13% of US emissions come from residential and commercial buildings, usually from gas burned for heat, while another 25% of emissions comes from electricity generation. Though home heating is less likely to be electric, some people have electric heat or electric water heating.
With winter coming, it is a great time to consider ways you can make your home more energy efficient. Some easy upgrades include installing LED light bulbs, sealing drafty doors, covering your windows with insulating shades, and switching to smart thermostats.
More complex improvements include sealing crawl spaces, adding blow-in insulation, sealing other leaks between walls and roofs or flooring and foundation where cold air comes into your home, and upgrading your appliances.
If you do need to upgrade your heating system, you could consider some greener options. Some of these options may qualify for federal tax credits or rebates under the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, or for Colorado State tax credits, or for rebates with your utility, so make sure to investigate different options that could help you reduce the cost of purchase and installation of these types of systems:
- Geothermal – using air from underground where the earth maintains a consistent temperature. It requires less energy to heat this air from 50 or so degrees up to your desired temperature versus heating winter air, which can be much colder.
- Thermal solar – using solar energy to heat water that you then use to heat your home via radiators or radiant floors. You can also use thermal solar for water heating only (if, for example, you already have a furnace but need to replace your water heater).
- Radiant heating – radiant heat is usually a more efficient form of heat than forced air, and there are a variety of different types of radiant systems from in-floor systems to wall panels.
- Heat pumps – these work similar to your refrigerator and use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space. They can be used for cooling as well as heating.
- Adding solar panels to run an electric heating system or electric hot water heater.
In Wheat Ridge, most people have Xcel as their energy provider, and Xcel offers their Home Energy Squad service which can do virtual or in-home visits with you to determine different ways to make your home more efficient! You can learn more about their audit options on their website: https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/residential/home-services/home-energy-squad.
If you think home energy efficiency upgrades are going to be too expensive for your budget, you could apply to the Energy Resource Center (https://www.erc-co.org/). The Energy Resource Center is a non-profit construction company assisting income-qualified families through energy efficiency improvements. Work completed includes insulation, HVAC, hot water heaters, lighting, appliances, air sealing and more. These upgrades are designed to reduce your energy usage and lower your monthly bills.
Additionally, if you have a home sprinkler system, don’t forget to close it up for the winter! It’s important to blow the water out of your sprinkler lines to reduce the risk of cracks during the cold months.
