Air Conditioning System As you begin the process of selecting the most efficient air conditioning system for your home, investigate the critical issues of system size, placement, installation, and contractor experience.
Appliances The average annual energy cost of a home is about $1,900, and appliances are a major part of home energy use (ENERGYSTAR).
Bathroom Faucets contribute to more than 15 percent of indoor household water use.
Caulking and Weather-Stripping The greatest source of wasted heating and cooling energy in a home is air leaks.
Ceiling Fans With the ceiling fan running, you can raise the thermostat setting by 2 to 4 degrees during the cooling season with no reduction in comfort and cut your cooling costs by 4 to 6%.
Dishwashers Washing dishes with a dishwasher is more efficient than washing them by hand.
Ductwork Your duct system has two main air transfer systems requiring the homeowner to select the best duct material, position in the optimal location, and expose and connect any air leakage.
Estimating Home Energy Use If you're trying to decide whether to invest in a more energy-efficient appliance or you'd like to determine your electricity loads, you may want to estimate appliance energy consumption.
Fluorescent Lighting A 26- or 28-watt compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) can replace a 100-watt incandescent bulb and last about 8,000 hours (compared to an incandescent bulb, which usually last about 1,000 hours).
Heating System Replacing your heating system creates lots of questions related to fuel utilization, performance, and energy costs.
House Design and Room Location For greatest energy efficiency, a house should have a simple, compact shape, with the long axis running east to west.
Insulation The effectiveness of an insulated wall or ceiling depends on the R-value and proper installation.
Laundry Area The laundry room can be a big consumer of energy--more than 1,000 kilowatt-hours a year--and water--and a big producer of unwanted heat and humidity in summer.
Moisture The moisture control system includes quality construction to shed water away from the building and its foundation; vapor and air barrier systems that hinder the flow of air infiltration and water vapor; and cooling and heating systems designed to provide comfort throughout the year.
Moisture Problems in New Construction Buildings should be designed and built to prevent both liquid water from migrating through building components and water vapor from being trapped in building assemblies, like walls.
Mold There are many types of mold, but none of them will grow without water or moisture.
Radiant Barriers Reflective insulation systems are made from aluminum foils with a variety of backing such as roof sheathing, kraft paper, plastic film, cardboard, etc.
Refrigerators and Freezers An ENERGYSTAR qualified refrigerator uses at least 20 percent less energy than required by current federal standards, 40 percent less than the conventional models sold in 2001, and about 50 percent less than models manufactured before 1993.
Roof Roofing is more than shingles, tile, or metal. A roof system consists of several components, properly assembled to provide the appropriate shelter for a structure.
Shape of the House Heat moves only when there is a difference in temperature, and it always moves from the warm side to the cool side.
Ventilation A natural or mechanical process of supplying conditioned or unconditioned air to, or removing air from, any space is referred to as ventilation.
Water Heater Heating water is the third largest energy expense in your home, it can account for 15-25% of your utility bill.
Windows Keep in mind that just because a window has an NFRC certification label it does not mean a window or door is energy efficient.
Whole-House Systems The systems approach recognizes the interation of windows, attics, foundations, mechanical equipment, and all other components and assemblies within the home.