Austin Energy Efficiency Goals Aim For Energy-Neutral Housing
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Written by: Brian.Reed
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Word Count: 491 |
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2010 |
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The green energy movement has now turned to green building. While the concept of green building is still in its infancy, innovators are already doing what was previously thought impossible: energy neutral housing. For Austin energy efficiency experts, this means creating designs that use as much power from the public grid as they can save or produce on their own. One of the driving factors to this growing trend is the fact that buildings are such major consumers of power, accounting for almost 40 percent of energy use in the United States.
Austin energy efficiency doesn’t just help the environment by conserving energy, it also helps inhabitants save money. For a three-bedroom home, energy bills that run more than $2,700 annually can be cut to about $700. The average household can recover the money they spent on the initial investment of building technology in approximately 12 years, after tax incentives and rebates.
While you might not be ready to make the total commitment to an energy neutral design, the first step to Austin energy efficiency can be achieved with the help of a BPI Certified Energy Audit. Through an energy audit, you can find the problem spots in any building, including insulation, shading, seals, and an assessment of HVAC equipment and duct pressure testing. The audit also can be performed in compliance with Austin’s Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure ordinance, which is conducted on all homes to determine their overall energy efficiency. Make sure that your auditor is a Building Analyst Professional, certified by the BPI and registered with the City of Austin.
If your home is more than 10 years old, then the next step is to obtain Performance Certification with Energy Star. This certification is a whole-house evaluation and repair program that is nationally recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. The program comprehensively looks at your entire house as a system whose parts work together, and makes the necessary adjustments so that your system becomes more energy efficient, comfortable, and environmentally-conscious. The evaluation focuses on the efficiency of four main components within your home: air duct sealing or replacement, central air conditioning and heating or heat pump, solar screens, window film, low-E windows, attic insulation, and air seal. The home performance with Energy Star Rebate will cover up to 20 percent, or $1575, of the cost of many of these improvements.
Building Science and Systems is an Austin energy efficiency and upgrade company with a green touch. We apply a 21st century approach utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and cutting edge technology to treat your home as a system. We provide education and skilled professionals to show homeowners how to maintain, improve, repair, and protect the value of their home. Building Science and Systems is a total home care service with a Green touch that takes the hassle out of maintaining your home. We provide custom, hassle free, Energy Audits and Green Home maintenance programs.
About the Author
Brian Reed. Austin energy efficiency Building Science and Systems is a total home care service with a Green touch that takes the hassle out of maintaining your home. We provide custom, hassle free, Energy Audits and Green Home maintenance programs.
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