CASE STUDY

HOME PERFORMANCE WITH
ENERGY STAR®

Fixing Leaky Ducts in Austin

Austin, Texas

Michael Wright's job keeps him on the road much of the
year, but when he returns to Austin he wants his home to
be just as comfortable, energy efficient, and economical as
it can be. "The electric bills from air-conditioning my house
were outrageously high, and the house just wasn't staying
cool enough," said Michael; "something had to be done for
both the sake of our family's bank account and comfort."

Michael contacted AirTech Energy Systems, a home
improvement contractor participating in the Austin Energy
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. AirTech
assessed the Wright's house and found a lot of room for
improvement. First, there were inadequate levels of
insulation in the attic. Also, the air-conditioning equipment
needed replacement, and the heating system needed a
tune-up. Finally, the ductwork throughout the house was
leaky, and a lot of conditioned air was lost to unfinished
crawlspaces and the attic.

To counter these shortcomings, insulation was blown into
the entire attic space, which increased the insulation value
to R-30. The air-conditioners were replaced with higher
efficiency models. Also, the already energy-efficient
furnaces in the home were repaired and serviced.

The most dramatic improvement to the Wright's home was
the replacement of leaky ductwork throughout the house
with well fabricated, mastic sealed ducts. "Now, the new
ducts in my home get conditioned air where it should go,
with very few losses," reported Michael.

Other less involved, but no less important improvements
included the installation of solar screens (a special type of
exterior shade) on every window to keep out 60-70% of the
Texas sun and heat plus caulking and sealing throughout
the home to cut down on the loss of conditioned air.

According to Michael, the result of all these improvements
is a, "much more comfortable house with a 55% decrease
in the monthly electric bill. The temperature throughout the
house stays at its thermostat setting without the wild
swings we used to experience. Even Franklin, our family
dog, enjoys his new indoor environment!"

The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program
currently is available in 12 states. Benefits of the program
include:

~	Up to 30% Savings on Energy Bills

~	A Quieter, More Comfortable Living Environment

~	Improved Air Quality

~	Greater Home Durability with Lower Maintenance

To learn more about the Home Performance
with ENERGY STAR program, visit
www.energystar.gov/homeperformance

HOME PERFORMANCE WITH

ENERGYSTAR

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