Product options offer consumers energy savings

With higher natural gas prices, energy efficiency is back in vogue with homeowners. And they have several options for lowering their energy costs.

Natural gas prices

The price of natural gas is 15 percent higher than last year according to the Natural Gas Supply Association.

Cara Shaefer, energy specialist at City Utilities, said the fuel adjustment factor, modified each April and October to compensate for the changes in the cost of fuel, reflects a slight decrease starting with bills mailed to CU customers on Oct. 1. Right now our cost per therm is 62 cents, so that makes it (cost) just about double to heat with electric resistance, Shaefer said. Even though gas prices are projected to go up and (be) historically the highest weve seen them, its still more efficient to heat with natural gas.

Energy efficient heating

Shaefer said replacing 15-to 25-year-old natural gas furnaces may have an efficiency of 65 percent to 70 percent. Choose a 90 (percent)-plus heating system and at least a SEER 12 air conditioner.

Gas is the best choice for water heaters, according to Dennis Langston of Harry Cooper Supply. Langston said that on-demand water heaters, common in European homes, are becoming popular in the Ozarks.

Its an endless supply ondemand. It only heats it when you turn it on, Langston said. It only heats the water that you use, (by) using very high BTU much higher than a normal water heater.

Unlike traditional water heaters, on-demand water heaters dont have tanks to hold the hot water before its use. Water runs through coils that are heated by the gas as the water runs through them, heating the water quickly. Langston said an on-demand water heater large enough to handle an entire house retails for about $1,100, plus the cost of installation by a certified installer. Since there is no tank, potential leaks and corrosion are avoided, saving homeowners from potential repairs down the road, Langston said.

The number one thing people are looking for is to save money on their utility bill, and they like the fact that (the on-demand water heater) only heats the water that you use. A regular water heater will kick off and on all day long, even when youre not home, and heat that tank of water. But this will only heat it when you turn it on, Langston said.

Lee Beaman of Beaman Electric said ground force heat pumps are extremely efficient, although the initial cost may seem steep.

Usually when you get a higher-efficiency unit of some kind, whether its a water heater or a heat pump or air conditioning unit, youre going to pay more upfront for the higher efficiency than you will a standard, he said. I think the payback is somewhere around five years on the average return on your investment, so after that youve got higher efficiency at a lesser cost.

Seeing the light

Alterations to the manufacturing process have made recessed lighting more energy efficient.

The recessed lighting that we use has a zero air release out the top of them, with efficiency of keeping the air from escaping through the top of the recessed lighting. Thats a big deal in our industry. A lot of the old can lights would be up in the insulation and the air would pass right past the bulb and through the can out the ceiling, Beaman said.

As for the light provided by the incandescent bulbs used in recessed lighting, Beaman said that florescent lighting is more energy efficient.

CUs Shaefer agrees. Just by replacing one 75 watt incandescent bulb, you can save approximately $17 in energy costs and replacement costs over the life of the compact fluorescent, she said.

However, Beaman said florescent light in a house changes the natural color of items furniture, food or even clothes in a closet so we rarely use them in a house. Thats one place where the efficiency is outweighed by performance. Put a florescent in your closet and all your black stuff looks navy blue.

About 60 percent of the lights Beaman Electric installs are recessed. The light provided may not be the most energy-efficient choice, but Beaman said the improvements to the design of recessed lighting have made this popular choice more energy-efficient than in the past. Youve got less efficiency (compared to florescent) but a lot more effective lighting.

Windows

Windows are another remodeling project that might require more up-front costs but be more cost-effective over time.

Replacement windows, according to Mike Benna, sales manager, make up 25 percent of the sales at Pella Windows & Doors.

We continue to get many calls due to the cost now that gas prices are going up, Benna said. Everyone is cognizant of the fact that energy efficiency of their old, leaky windows is important with the cost of energy going up so high.

Improper installation sometimes results in air leaking not from the windows, but from the area surrounding the windows, Benna said. You could buy the best window in the world but if its not installed properly you could have air coming in around the edges of the window. Same way with a door. We find that a lot of doors leak air around them.

Benna is quick to point out that there are no firm numbers on how much a customer might expect to save on utility bills by replacing windows. There are two schools of thought. One is that you can save up to 25 percent and the other school of thought is you can (save up to 25 percent) but it takes you over so many years to do that, Benna said, adding that a true reflection of savings would depend on the style and condition of the windows being replaced.

If they are replacing single pane units that are very old and they go to double pane insulated glass with a low-E coating, theyre going to see quite a large improvement, Benna said.

A low-E coating is a coating on the inside of the window, between the panes of glass, and blocking about 75 percent of the suns ultra-violet rays, according to Benna. He said that not only will a low-E coating improve the energy efficiency of the windows, it will also reduce the amount of fading to carpet and furniture.

Insulation

Mark Sechler of Sechler Remodeling said his best energy-efficient tip is to wrap the house up like a Christmas present using Tyvek house wrap.

By wrapping the house you cut down on air infiltration and it is also a moisture barrier. So if moisture gets behind siding, whether its masonry or vinyl or even wood, at joints or whatever, the Tyvek will take care of it so it has a drain plane and it wont come into the house. It makes a very tight house, Sechler said.

While high ceilings are popular, Sechler said homeowners might save money by choosing lower ceilings. (With high ceilings) you have more square footage to heat and cool, he said.

But most customers seem more concerned with creating a comfortable home rather than choosing the most energy-efficient features.