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Boosting home energy efficiency: Improvements
that feel good and save money
(ARA) - When it comes to making your home more energy efficient,
you may have to spend a little to save a lot. And, like most
good investments, energy-efficient home improvements may require
you to be in it for the long haul in order to see the maximum
return on your investment.
Still, if you're planning to be in your current home for several
years (and numerous studies report that more Americans are staying
put), a long-term investment in improved energy efficiency can
make sound dollar sense for your family. Energy-efficient improvements
can help reduce energy use, lower utility bills and cut your
home's environmental impact. You may also reap a tax benefit
from making certain eco-friendly improvements. And some improvements,
like installing skylights
or solar water heating systems, can boost the healthfulness
- and your enjoyment - of your home.
Skylight savings
Heating, cooling and electricity make up the largest chunk of
nearly every American home's annual utility bill. Installing
a skylight can actually help you lower heating/cooling costs
and electric bills. In fact, installing Energy Star-qualified
skylights, along with qualified windows and doors, can lower
energy bills 7 percent to 15 percent compared to non-qualified
products, according to EnergyStar.gov.
Because skylights admit abundant natural light, they can help
lower your home's dependence on artificial light sources - meaning
you'll use less electricity to light your home. They are also
an outstanding method of passively venting moisture, fumes and
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from your home, so they can
help improve indoor air quality as well. Venting skylights also
admit cool breezes, to help lower cooling costs in spring and
fall, when indoor temperatures may be too warm to be comfortable
but not hot enough to warrant turning on the air conditioning.
You will find tax credits and product rebates in place for certain
skylights and accessories, according to Joe Patrick of Velux
America, manufacturers of the No
Leak Skylight. He says that reliability, with long-term,
durable performance is backed by both product and installation
warranties. "When properly installed, Velux skylights are no
more prone to leaks than any other properly installed, quality
window in your home," he adds. You can learn more at www.veluxusa.com.
Solar water heating saves
Solar power is gaining broad acceptance across the country as
a cost-effective way to reduce utility costs. Solar water heaters,
in particular, have attained a level of reliability that makes
them competitive with traditional water heating products. But
when it comes to cost savings, comparisons pale between traditional
and solar
water heating systems.
The federal tax credit program makes it possible to recoup up
to 30 percent of the installed cost of a solar water heating
system, and many states and utilities offer additional incentives.
The cost of a system from a manufacturer like Velux will vary
based on a home's requirements. The installed cost for a residential
solar water heating system will typically run between $6,500
to $12,000 says Jim Cika, a solar water heating expert with
Velux. Installation costs will vary depending on a number of
homesite variables, so a solar specialist should be contacted
for detailed costs. Savings can be dramatic, he adds: an average
of a 50 to 80 percent reduction in the cost of heating water
for your home. "That's a significant sum when you consider that
the Department of Energy says water heating can account for
14 to 25 percent of the energy consumed in our homes," he says.
Energy-efficient home improvements can be right on so many levels
- from doing something good for the environment to making a
change that can save you money in the long run. To learn more
about how skylights and solar water heating systems can help
trim your energy bills, visit www.veluxusa.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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