Lower Utility Bills

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Building Technology’s number one recommendation to help consumers reduce energy bills is by adding insulation. According to the Department of Energy, only 20% of the homes built before 1980 are adequately insulated. Older homes are particularly vulnerable, leading to high heating and air-conditioning bills. Having an energy efficient home starts with proper levels of insulation. Insulation in your walls and attic keep the living space conditioned and allow your Heating and/or Air Conditioning source to run more efficiently, thus reducing your energy consumption.

Increased Comfort

Is your home cold in the winter and hot in the summer? Is the temperature upstairs between 8 to 12 degrees different from the temperature downstairs? Insulating your home will help keep your living space or “Comfort Zone” consistent throughout your home. This makes for a more comfortable living space throughout your home.

Increased Resale Value

Installing proper insulation levels can also make your home more attractive to potential buyers. 86% of Americans would choose one home over another based on its energy efficiency. (Energy Pulse Survey, 2006)

Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Properly insulating homes worldwide would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 293.5 Billion pounds over 10 years. (“Integrating Risk Assessment and Life Cycle Assessment: A Case Study of Insulation”, Harvard School of Public Health; Boston, MA)

Reducing Energy Consumption reduces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. NAIMA estimates that insulated buildings in the United States reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 780 tons annually. (North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), “Using Recycled Materials Is Just the First Step Toward Safeguarding the Environment”)

According to two studies done by Harvard University’s School of Public Health, if all single families in the U.S. were adequately insulated, each year there would be:

• 6,500 fewer asthma attacks
• 240 fewer premature deaths
• 110,000 restricted-activity days per year

• 5.1R-Value per inch

• 80% Noise Reduction

• Class A Fire Retardant

• Non-Toxic

• Non-Intrusive

HOT WATER  -  A $60.00 Time clock turns water heating off during periods when the household does not typically use hot water.

Good insulation greatly reduces the value of a timer on electric hot heaters. Depending on location (attic, garage or next to HVAC equipment) and time of year (cold). Example: Cold attic temperatures can increase your hot water cost.  

Does solar hot water make sense? Most new start up companies that do not understand energy usage, energy cost, safety (explosions / legionnaires disease) or renewable energy will claim 30-70% reductions for homes with little hot water use.

Let's do the MATH.... The estimated cost to heat water in a 40 Gallon Hot Water Electric Tank.

A typical electric water heater is about 95% Efficient.

It takes 525 Btu's to heat one gallon of water at at 100% efficiency. So, 525 ÷ 95.% =  567 Btu's

One kWh is 3413 Btu's, so one Btu is 0.000293 kWh.   567 Btu's x 0.000293 kWh/Btu = 0.166 kWh.
 

So we've got 0.166 kWh to heat a gallon of water, or 0.166 x 40 = 6.63 kWh to heat a 40-gallon tank.
At $0.11/kWh, it costs 6.63 x $0.11 = $0.73 to heat a 40-gallon tank.

A typical R-16 tank will only run for three (3) hours daily, 3x .73= $2.19 per day!

The cost factors for typical electric hot water is insulation, location and run time (standby losses and number of showers etc).

If you have more than four people or two hot water heaters, consider tankless. If you want to increase your existing "hot water tank" efficiency just ADD a blanket or Time Clock!

Energy Management Since 1989