Green Building Energy Services Blog

A couple of weeks ago, I embarked on a mission to help central Texans cut their heating costs this winter without sacrificing comfort. This week’s blog will focus on inexpensive ways homeowners and small business owners can prepare for the chilly central Texas evenings, and reduce heating costs by up to 20% this winter.

This second installment of small things to save big this winter will focus on cool ways to stay warm this winter in your home or office…

1. Replace air filters every 30 days. Yes, I know that air filter manufacturers claim that air filters last up to 90 days. The important phrase in that statement is “up to” 90 days. Air filters are tested in a laboratory environment and may not be subject to the extreme conditions in central Texas, especially with the significant amount of allergens that circulate during the winter months. Air filters must accomplish three things: hold dust (measured by the amount of grams the filter will hold), maximize airflow (measured in resistance), and stop small particles (measured in the PERCENTAGE of particles of a certain micron size captured by the filter). Look for filters which hold 200+ grams of dust, have a resistance of .20 or less, and capture at least 10% of particles 5 microns in size.
2. Don’t buy cheap weather stripping. While less expensive, most self-adhesive foams installed around doors and windows will become unseated after a few days of installation, especially with heavy use. Instead, utilize either bronze, or aluminum and vinyl strips around doors and windows. Once installed, they will remain in place.
3. Install heavy duty door sweeps to exterior doors. If you can slide a piece of paper between the door bottom and threshold, the door sweep is either installed incorrectly, or is not long enough. Many people complain that double-sided and heavy duty door sweeps limit functionality of doors, or scratch the floor surface. Heavy duty single-sided door sweeps are adequate as long as they span the length of the door to cover gaps. As an alternative, there are automatic door sweeps, which are spring-loaded, raise up when the door is open, and form a tight seal when the door is closed.
4. Seal your attic hatch. Whether your home or office has pull down stairs, walk-in attic access, or scuttle hole access; the Department of Energy (DOE) reports that up to 20% of unconditioned and unfiltered air from the attic enters the home through this access point. Make sure the attic access hatch can be completely attached to the attic floor, contains a radiant and thermal barrier to prevent radiant heat from entering the building.
5. Seal leaks and penetration points in your home and/or office. Austin Energy and CPS Energy have conduced thousands of energy audits since 2009. Both public utilities report that the average 2,000 sq ft home contains over a mile and a half of cracks and holes where unwanted air can penetrate the living/office space. Using 30- or 40-year caulk, seal the following plumbing penetrations (remember to look behind the metal/plastic ring covering the water supply): sinks, toilets, shower heads, water heater supply lines. Seal around exhaust fans, air supply registers, return registers, light fixtures, and ceiling fans – FROM THE ATTIC. Why from the attic? Because when the furnace is running, it creates what is known as negative pressure in the living/office space, where the heating system sucks air through the return registers. The negative pressure pulls unconditioned and unfiltered air from the attic, resulting in your furnace running longer, and wasting energy.

You can save an additional 20-40% on heating and cooling costs, and increase the comfort by making energy efficient upgrades to your home or office. Not only can you save with these home energy saver ideas, but saving energy can also be accomplished by installing energy efficient upgrades such as whole house air sealing, duct sealing, attic insulation, attic ventilation, radiant barrier, wall foam insulation, and spray foam insulation. Schedule an energy performance assessment today.

What happened to fall in central Texas? We went from triple digit days - where we complained about high utility bills – to blustery 60° days and nights dipping into the 30s (oh yes, it will approach freezing November 10^th) – where we’re already complaining about cold floors and drafts throughout the home/office. Fear not my fellow thin-blooded Texans, there are small things you can do to be comfortable and lower utility costs this winter.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll post energy saving techniques homeowners and business owners can apply to save up to 20% or more on heating costs this winter. The first installment will focus on ways to increase heating efficiency in your home or office…

1. Turn down your thermostat a couple of degrees and put on an extra layer of clothing. Yes, keeping your room temperature lower is a no-brainer as a means to lower heating costs; what most people don’t know is exactly how much can be saved by lowering the temperature just a few degrees. If you normally set your room temperature to 74° in winter, consider setting it to 72°, or 70°, if possible. For each degree you lower the temperature on your thermostat, you are likely to reduce heating costs by 2% (e.g. lowering thermostat temperature 4 = 8% savings).
2. Use blinds and shades to keep heat in the room. Keep blinds and shades open during sunny days to allow for natural solar heat gain. Even the most energy efficient windows and coverings do not block out solar heat gain completely. At night, close blinds and shades to reduce heat loss through windows. The blinds and shades act as a thermal barrier, slowing the transfer rate of warm air that in the room to the outside.
3. Change the direction of ceiling fans, so they turn counter clockwise in winter. Many people recognize that hot air rises; but what happens when hot air gets to the ceiling? Answer: nothing. Insulation in the attic floor acts as a thermal barrier, slowing heat transfer of hot air through the ceiling, so once hot air reaches the ceiling it has a tendency to stay put. Circulating ceiling fans counter clockwise encourages warmer air to re-circulate throughout the room.
4. Keep air supply registers in rooms open, and DO NOT close off unused rooms. If you’re like many homeowners and business owners, you don’t use all rooms, and think, “if I’m not in this room I should shut the register and keep the door closed.” This is not necessarily the case. The HVAC system is designed to produce balanced air flow, i.e. it is designed to push a specific amount of air to all rooms, and to receive a specific amount of air through the return system. When registers are closed, it disrupts the balance of your system, causing it to work inefficiently – inefficient heating systems means higher utility bills. Close doors to unused rooms ONLY if there is space under the door to allow for air circulation.
5. Replace air filters MONTHLY and ensure return registers are not blocked by furniture or other items. Air filter manufacturer’s state filters last “up to 3 months.” What’s not stated on the package is the filters were tested in a lab environment where conditions are relatively consistent. What’s not stated is that leakage (check back next week on ways to eliminate leakage in your home or office), pets, and general activities in the home cause dust to collect on air filters. Once the dust collection capacity is reached, air filters allow excess dust back through the system. Additionally, too much dust on air filters negatively impacts an air filter’s resistance, i.e. its ability to catch dust and allow air to be recycled through the system. Not enough return air disrupts the balance of the system, again resulting in higher heating costs. Check out http://afmfilters.com/gbes to explore an air filter with higher dust capacity and better resistance, which will help save on heating costs.

If you are like many other homeowners, you are still struggling to keep costs down as the economy continues to sputter. Hidden costs exist right in your very own home; costs that you can reduce each and every month. One of those hidden costs is the energy used by your water heater. According to the Department of Energy (DOE) the energy used to heat water in your home is approximately 14% of your total utility bill. Not ready to take the plunge to a solar or tankless water heater? No problem. Follow these suggestions to cut the cost of heating water in your home up to 20%...each month.

Lower the temperature in the water heater to 115°–120°. When the temperature drops in winter, many homeowners raise the temperature of their water heater. Reducing the temperature of the water heater is typically not noticeable, and will reduce water heating costs by about 5%.

Take shorter showers. Reducing the length of a shower by just three (3) minutes can save a minimum of 10 gallons of water. Over the course of a year, that eliminates the need to heat over 14,600 gallons of water.

Switch to low-flow faucets and shower heads. Installing showerheads and faucets which don’t exceed 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) require a small investment of less than $20 per installed piece of equipment and can save up to 25% on water heating costs.

Insulate exposed water pipes. Sure it only freezes maybe once or twice a year in central Texas, but insulating hot water pipes keeps water temperature 2°-4° and conserves energy because less time is required to heat water. If you have a gas water heater, make sure insulation is a minimum of six (6) inches from the flue.

For electric water heaters - use appliances during “off-peak” hours and utilize a timer. Some utility companies charge higher rates per kilowatt-hour during peak times – typically between 2pm – 6pm. Take showers in the morning and/or evening, and run other appliances such as the dishwasher and laundry during “off-peak” hours. A timer conserves energy and reduces water heating costs by turning off electric water heaters during peak times and overnight.

Together, these simple, cost-effective methods will reduce water usage, and conserve energy by reducing the energy required to heat water in your home. Total annual water heating costs can be reduced by at least 20%.

For those of you ready to take the “plunge” next week I’ll discuss the advantages of replacing older water heaters with solar or tankless water heaters…

You can save an additional 20-40% on utility bills and increase the comfort by making energy efficient upgrades to your home or office. Not only can you save with these home energy saver ideas, but saving energy can also be accomplished by installing energy efficient upgrades such as whole house air sealing, duct sealing, attic insulation, attic ventilation, radiant barrier, wall foam insulation, and spray foam insulation. Schedule an energy performance assessment today.

Fighting Mold, Grass, and Other Allergies this Summer by Improving Indoor Air Quality

If you’re like many in central Texas, you dread summer in central Texas; not because you begin to melt within 37 seconds of being tormented by the invisible summer heat, but because of another invisible tormenter in central Texas: allergies. Over 40-50 million Americans are affected each year by allergies, resulting in serious health issues such as extended illness, even disability. Nearly 35 million Americans suffer from upper respiratory symptoms, which are allergic reactions to airborne pollen.

If you’re like many central Texans, you dread the summer months, because pollen counts are often higher, leading to allergies, during the summer months. Common allergens in central Texas during the summer include grasses, mold, pig weed, and ragweed. According to Dr. Douglas Barstow and Dr. Jay van Bavel, of Allergy & Asthma Associates, mold counts are high right now in central Texas.

“No problem, I’ll just stay inside,” you say? You may be surprised to know that indoor air can be up to five (5) times as polluted and up to 100 times as dirty as outdoor air (source Congressional Quarterly). Common symptoms to poor indoor air quality include, but are not limited to: headaches, fatigue, drowsiness, lack of concentration, and snoring. More severe allergic reactions include hay fever and asthma. Feeling like there’s nowhere to hide from poor indoor air quality? The solution may be as simple as replacing your air filter.

Air filters exist to trap damaging particles, which, once they enter a home, are circulated reducing indoor air quality. Additionally, these same particles reduce the efficiency of your A/C unit, making it more expensive to cool your home. Install high performance air filters with a micro particles rating of at least 1,500 to ensure the maximum number of harmful particles are trapped by the filter. The more particles a filter can trap, the better its performance.

Finding the right filter is only part of the solution, however. To maintain the efficiency of your A/C system, air filters must be replaced on a regular basis. A clogged return air filter can reduce operating efficiency of A/C systems by more than 10% (source: Reliant Energy). So, filters must be replaced on a regular basis, at least every 90 days, if not sooner.

The GREEN SCREEN, from Air Filtration Management systems, provides an air filter with three layers (a white layer to capture large airborne particles, a green layer with a fine fiber structure and non-drying adhesive, to enhance the dust loading capability, and an antimicrobial agent with a micro particle performance rating that exceeds most other air filters available today. Explore the GREEN SCREEN to restore indoor air quality in your home, and save up to 10% on your electric bills.

You can save an additional 20-40% on utility bills and increase the comfort by making energy efficient upgrades to your home or office. Not only can you save with these home energy saver ideas, but saving energy can also be accomplished by installing energy efficient upgrades such as whole house air sealing, duct sealing, attic insulation, attic ventilation, radiant barrier, wall foam insulation, and spray foam insulation. Schedule a FREE energy performance assessment today.

How to Lower the Cost of Utility Bills during Peak Rate Periods

When was the last time you looked at your electric bill; I mean REALLY looked at your electric bill? If you’re like most people, you simply look at the total bill amount, and pay the amount due – and depending on the time of year, and potential energy efficiency issues in your home or office, you may utter a few expletives prior to actually paying the bill. Or, you could be like many technologically advanced homeowners and business owners and have your electric bill set up for auto draft from your bank account or to auto pay to a credit card.

In either case, if you simply glance at your electric bill, if at all, you are missing out on an important piece of information regarding power costs: utility companies charge different rates during different times throughout the day. For example, Pedernales Electric Cooperative charges a baseline rate, called economy rate, a normal rate, and a peak rate. See the rates corresponding to the time of day below:

Baseline: 11pm – 10am

Normal: 10am – 2pm

Peak: 2pm – 6pm

Normal: 6pm – 11pm

Austin Energy charges a baseline rate, and adds an adjustment based on usage.

To save energy and cut your utility bills, we recommend you make a few minor adjustments throughout the day. Taking into consideration peak hours are between 2pm and 6pm from June through September, practice energy conservation by following three simple suggestions:

1. Take showers in the morning, rather than in the evening. Utility rates are up to five (5) times lower in the morning than during other times of the day
2. Use major appliances such as dishwashers, and washer and dryer after 6pm. If possible, use the delay option on your dishwasher to run after 11pm
3. Set your thermostat 1-3 degrees higher during peak hours, and use ceiling fans to help circulate air throughout your home

The benefits to making these small changes will conserve energy and save you an additional 10-15% on your utility bill. Not only will you save money now, you are savings for the future. Utility companies spend up to 70% of their operating costs on buying power. Avoid future utility rate increases by conserving energy today.

You can save an additional 20-40% on utility bills and increase the comfort by making energy efficient upgrades to your home or office. Not only can you save with these home energy saver ideas, but saving energy can also be accomplished by installing energy efficient upgrades such as whole house air sealing, duct sealing, attic insulation, attic ventilation, radiant barrier, wall foam insulation, and spray foam insulation. Schedule a FREE energy performance assessment today.

“Help Me Help You” - Getting access to your electric and gas usage data is critical for home performance analysis

As the economy continues to recover, many homeowners and small businesses are ways to stretch their dollar further. Homeowners seek ways to increase comfort of their home, cut utility bills, and reduce energy consumption. For small businesses, they seek ways to cut expenses, which go directly to the bottom line.

Homeowners and small businesses can take advantage of energy efficient upgrades, energy rebates, and federal tax rebates for energy efficient upgrades to increase the energy efficiency of a home and/or building, save energy, and equally important, save money. Green Building Energy Services, LLC is uniquely positioned as a home performance contractor to provide these services to homeowners and small businesses. Green Building Energy Services takes a whole house as a system approach to energy efficiency. Where many home performance contractors enter a home and/or building to give a quote for one service, Green Building Energy Services conducts a comprehensive home energy performance assessment, using diagnostic equipment to examine air flow, air quality, air leakage, the heating, ventilation, and cooling system, attic ventilation, and other areas interdependently impact how the home and/or building uses energy.

Getting access to utility bills is a critical step in analyzing a home’s and/or building’s performance. Utility bill information is entered into energy auditing software, which provides critical data to determine which energy efficiency upgrades are recommended to provide the greatest return on investment. But getting utility bill data is difficult. Often times Green Building Energy Services must manually enter utility bill data, which is time consuming, or must wait weeks to obtain utility bill information. 

If you’ve ever watched the move Jerry Maguire you know what I’m going to ask: “Help me help you.” Late last week, Senators Mark Udall of Colorado and Scott Brown of Massachusetts introduced a bill to congress called the “Electric Consumer Right to Know Act” or “E-Know”.  This act will help Green Building Energy Services and other home performance contractors gain access to previous 12 months of electricity usage electronically with the permission of the homeowner or small business owner. I encourage you to read the full press release and learn more about the bill.
If you want to increase the comfort of your home, cut utility bills, reduce energy consumption and get more from energy rebates and federal tax credits for energy efficient upgrades, then I’m asking you to “help me help you.”

Green Building Energy Services provides comprehensive solutions to increase comfort, cut utility bills, and reduce energy consumption.

According to The New York Times, September 26, 2010 article Can We Build in a Brighter Shade of Green?, years of data suggests “America’s drafty building methods account for as much as 40% of its primary energy use, 70% of its electricity consumption and nearly 40% of its carbon-dioxide emissions.”

Austin Energy reports that thousands of home performance assessments have been conducted in the Austin area since 2009.
•    Nearly 80% of all homes required whole home sealing.
•    Nearly 95% of all homes had duct leakage.
•    Duct leakage is responsible for nearly 20% of energy efficiency loss in a home/office.