Considering Home Energy Upgrades?

How Green Retrofits Could Save the World.” This headline recently caught my attention. Working for Build It Green, a Bay Area based non-profit that promotes Green building practices, I know that home energy retrofits are a hot topic. I’m sure you’ve heard it too. The White House recently issued a “Recovery Through Retrofit” report, and a lot of the Stimulus dollars that are being funneled through local governments are ear-marked for home energy retrofit programs.

So can remodeling your home Green really save the world? Probably not entirely, but the energy and water conservation elements of a Green remodel are certainly a good place to start. Many existing homes have excessive air infiltration, no wall insulation, and inefficient heating, cooling and water systems. In California, for example, over 70% of the housing stock predates Title 24, California’s comprehensive energy standards, and many of those homes have never been upgraded. And even though homes built before 1960 tend to be a lot smaller than the homes built today, they have a much higher energy usage rate. Typical improvements in these homes can result in 30% energy savings and 50% water savings, which translate into savings on your utility bills as well. They also often qualify for tax credits. The U.S. Department of Energy has outlined a number of home energy efficiency improvement tax credits that are redeemable through the end of 2010 (www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm).   

So where do you start? Sierra Club Green Home can help get you going. An online resource for homeowners, it introduces Green home upgrades and provides helpful hints you can do on your own. Build It Green’s Home Remodeling Green Building Guidelines help you delve a little deeper. 

Basic steps suggested in the Guidelines include:

Make sure your attic and walls are well insulated.

Air seal and weatherize your home.

Upgrade or replace windows.

Install water efficient fixtures.

Install high efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Construct water efficient landscaping.

For some of these steps you’ll want to enlist professional help. Luckily, a lot of building professionals are seeing the value in learning how to conduct Green retrofits, and are seeking the necessary training. There are currently several high quality training programs in the Bay Area. One of the most respected in the state is run by Build It Green.

Build It Green has trained nearly 5000 individuals to build healthier, more resource efficient homes. Our curriculum was recently named as a standard for Workforce Investment Boards to meet new green jobs training goals. Our Advanced Training specifically focuses on retrofitting existing homes, guiding trainees through the deeper details of a comprehensive green home analysis. Further, Build It Green requires builders to keep their certification current by accumulating 16 continuing education units every two years. Don’t be afraid to ask for green building credentials when you’re hiring someone. Since green retrofits are such a hot topic, you may find a lot of people claiming they know how to do them. 

We post a directory of current Certified Green Building Professionals on the Build It Green website. This is a great place to find professionals in your area who are dedicated to getting your house to perform at its best.

You may not be able to save the whole world, but you can do a little, and you can save a bit of money while you’re at it. And thanks to organizations like the Sierra Club and Build It Green, you can find help along the way.

Annette Hartsfield is a Build It Green Program Associate and Grant Writer. For more information on Build It Green’s programs and to find a Certified Green Building Professional in your area, visit www.BuildItGreen.org.