Posts Tagged ‘Energy Efficiency’

In the past few years I have become much more interested in spending less on energy in my life. I don’t think this is entirely caused by the recession, but that is definitely a consideration. I first got interested when I was exposed to new building practices as they pertained to the concept of Earth-craft and building tighter homes. At the time, the lower bills were not as exciting to me as the increased comfort level of the home. 

Needing to replace a vehicle recently, the process led me to clean diesel technology and I purchased a VW Jetta Sportswagen TDI. My wife is the primary driver but I get to drive it from time to time. We are getting well over 40 MPG in this vehicle. Its amazing and makes me want to get rid of our paltry 20 MPG vehicle as soon as possible. The range on a tank of gas is over 600 miles. Truly amazing.

In residential housing, I think energy efficiency is gaining momentum and is going to move up the list of “must haves” for home buyers rapidly. This is not just a new home conversation. If you are investing in the purchase of a new home, by all means, make sure you understand how it is built as well as the quality of the HVAC. They go hand in hand. But this conversation is not just about new homes. I’ve started to think improving a home’s energy efficiency may be a better investment than many cosmetic upgrades. I imagine a time in the not to distant future when energy audit contingencies are as common as home inspection contingencies.

There is a new resource in the area for homeowners interested in energy audits and efficiency upgrades. Check out the Local Energy Alliance Program.

I hope to share more on the nuts and bolts of the way many builders are achieving energy efficiency these days, but if you are interested in this conversation now, feel free to contact me.