United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
United States
Department of Energy
x -X HOME PERFORMANCE WITH
W^ENERGYSTAR
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and
U.S. Department of Energy
n 430F06002
Home Performance
with ENERGY
Recycled/Recyclable—Printed with vegetable oil based inks on
recycled paper (Minimum 50% post-consumer content)
-------
WHAT IS
ENERGY STAR*?
ENERGY STAR is the government-backed program that
helps us all to save money and protect our environment
with energy-efficient products and practices. Whether
you are looking to replace old appliances, remodel your
home, or buy a new house, ENERGY STAR can help.
More than 40 kinds of products, including lighting,
appliances, televisions, computers, heating and
cooling equipment, and even new homes, can earn
the government's ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR
also offers best practice solutions, like home sealing
and duct sealing, that can make your home more
comfortable and reduce your energy costs.
Energy efficiency helps us make the most of our
nation's energy resources and reduce emissions of
greenhouse gases. Home Performance with ENERGY
STAR, sponsored nationally by U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE
and available in select cities, offers a comprehensive,
whole-house approach to making energy-efficient
home improvements. Participating contractors provide
recommendations and services to homeowners to
make their homes more energy efficient and
comfortable, while reducing their utility bills and
protecting the environment
HOME
PERFORMANCE
WITH
ENERGYSTAR
For more information on
Home Performance with
ENERGY STAR, visit
www.energystar.gov/homeperformance
or call
1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937)
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM
HOME PERFORMANCE WITH
ENERGY STAR
DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM
A contractor participating in a locally-sponsored Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR program can help you
cost-effectively improve your home's energy efficiency.
These specially-trained contractors evaluate your home
using state-of-the-art equipment and recommend
comprehensive improvements that will yield the best
results. These recommendations can benefit you by
making your home more comfortable, saving energy,
and reducing levels of allergens like dust and pollen
in your home.
Rather than focusing on a single component, such as
drafty windows, an old air conditioning system, or leaky
ductwork, the contractor will assess how improvements to
all of these components can work together to provide:
•fewer drafts,
• consistent temperature distribution across rooms,
• better humidity control,
• proper ventilation, and
• lower utility bills.
COMMON RECOMMENDATIONS
While your home performance contractor will develop
a specific plan for your home, commonly recommended
solutions include:
SEALING AIR LEAKS AND ADDING INSULATION
Many air leaks in homes are fairly obvious, such as around
windows, doors, and electrical outlets. But others, like those
in attics, around chimneys, and through recessed lighting
fixtures, are often the more significant sources of energy
loss in a home. Blocking and sealing air leaks is critical to
the overall efficiency of your home and will make all of the
other components deliver better performance.
Along with air sealing, your contractor may recommend
that you have additional insulation installed in your home.
Many older homes are not well-insulated, and some have
no insulation at all. Properly installed insulation in walls,
floors, and attics provides for more even temperatures
throughout the house and results in a quieter, more
comfortable living environment.
-------
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:
HOME PERFORMANCE WITH
ENERGY STAR
After evaluating your home, the contractor will assist you in
selecting improvements that will be the best investments for
your home and your family and can tell you how to take
advantage of Federal tax credits for energy efficiency
improvements. Once you select the improvements that fit
your needs and budget, your contractor will either make the
specified improvements or work with other professionals to
have the job completed.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Your contractor is participating in a Home Performance with
ENERGY STAR program with a local sponsor. That sponsor is
committed to on-going
quality assurance to
ensure that contractors
are maintaining high
lards for performance
testing and whole-house
improvements. To meet
. goals, the sponsor
spot-check the work
of participating contractors.
This gives you extra
TECHNICIAN PERFORMING Peace of mind that Vour
A BLOWER DOOR TEST work will be done right.
From whole-house analysis to ensuring quality work, Hom<
Performance with ENERGY STAR can help you make your
home more energy efficient and comfortable, while reducing
your utility bills and protecting the environment.
-------
IMPROVING HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS
If your furnace or air conditioner is more than 10 years old,
your contractor may recommend that you replace it with a unit
that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. Installed correctly,
these high-efficiency units can save up to 20% on heating and
cooling costs. But when it comes to heating and cooling
equipment, bigger is not always better. A properly-sized unit
will make your home more comfortable by providing more
consistent temperatures and better humidity control.
Your contractor should also test combustion equipment, such
as your furnace and hot water heater, to ensure that it is
operating and venting properly.
SEALING DUCTWORK
Most homes have leaky ductwork and insufficient air flow,
resulting in an uncomfortable living environment—regardless
of the thermostat setting. Your home performance contractor
may recommend sealing your home's ducts with mastic,
metal tape or aerosol-based sealant, and balancing the duct
system to optimize air flow to all rooms. Insulating ductwork
in attics, crawlspaces, and some basements can also help to
ensure that your home will be more comfortable.
UPGRADING LIGHTING AND APPLIANCES
Energy used for lighting and appliances can account for
half of your home's total utility bill. As a result, your home
performance contractor may recommend ENERGY STAR
qualified products, such as refrigerators, dishwashers,
electronic equipment, light fixtures, and compact fluorescent
bulbs. An energy- and water-efficient hot water heating
system may also be recommended.
Once you've taken steps to increase your home's efficiency,
you may also want to consider adding renewable energy
systems, such as solar electric (photovoltaics) or solar hot
water, to further reduce your utility bills.
------- |