Saving energy at home can save you money

These days many families are looking for ways to be both frugal and environmentally friendly.

New Brunswick has the unfortunate distinction of being the third highest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases in Canada. Though some of this is attributed to industry, the energy we use to heat and power our homes is responsible for a whopping 26 per cent of our total emissions, a fact that the Conservation Council of New Brunswick states quite candidly on its website. And it’s something Kevin Matthews, renewable and home energy adviser with the council, feels could change with just a little bit of effort by the homeowner.

“The first step in achieving energy efficiency in your home is getting an energy efficiency audit done,” said Matthews. “For a house less than 2,000 square feet, the cost amounts to $50, with the remainder ($400) paid for by the provincial government, so you’re almost crazy to not get it done.”

“An energy audit of your home is like a medical checkup for the home,” said Matthews. “It will provide you with a comprehensive list of the energy-related strengths and weaknesses of your home, and as an additional financial benefit, it is very rare that the recommendations are not cost effective to implement.”

Making better energy decisions in and around the home is something Efficiency NB is working hard to promote and financially support through its programs, which can be found in detail on its website www.efficiencynb.ca. Programs cover everything from new and existing residential and commercial buildings to low-income households in conjunction with the Department of Social Development.

What exactly is an energy audit?

A comprehensive residential energy audit is an assessment of energy use and inventory of the energy-using equipment in the home. The energy assessment includes:

* how energy is used (can determine the use of a smaller appliance instead of a major appliance to save energy)

* how much is used – which means tracking your energy use using your utility bills or reading your own utility meters

* when it is used – means the time of day and time of year usage, which will help determine if savings can be made when no one is home

* how and how much energy is lost or wasted will help determine where energy can be saved

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Besides a formal energy audit, Matthews outlines an energy conservation measures inventory that any homeowner can undertake to get a rough estimate of the home’s energy efficiency and how one can reach the objective of air tightness throughout the home.

“You want to reduce all air leakage . . . and first and foremost, the key to any energy assessment is the blower-door test,” said Matthews. “This test effectively sucks all the air out of your house and reveals air leakage spots.”

Matthews indicates that the basement and attic are two places a homeowner should look first, particularly at the insulation.

“The basement, from my experience, is always going to be your weakest point and it usually exhibits telltale signs right away,” said Matthews, “in terms of leaks, moisture and letting in cold air or water.”

Matthews says that insulating your foundation – from the inside and if possible from the outside – will go a long way to minimize any heat loss and potential water moisture issues in the foundation.

Matthews says that lack of insulation in walls and ceilings, and around windows and doors is the next major culprit of air escape, along with the incidental little penetration holes used for power sockets, piping and other construction holes in the home.

Finally, the third item question is what method of heating is used by the homeowner and does it need replacing?

Electric heating systems emit the most greenhouse gas emissions, far worse than burning oil in a home furnace.

Only about 30 per cent of the energy of coal or oil burned in a power generating station makes it to our electric heaters.

Matthews points out that today’s oil, gas and wood furnaces have upgraded their energy efficiency to the point that many have efficiency ratings easily exceeding 80 per cent.

Forward Thinking is a Thursday feature that explores research and development, as well as new technologies in our community. Send your comments and story ideas to news@dailygleaner.com.