The oft-repeated message is ominous: Winter is coming. Energy costs are exorbitant. Utility bills will soar. Weatherize your house.
But just what should the typical home owner do?
What’s most important, experts advise, is to do something. Anything. Even a small investment in home energy efficiency yields big returns at today’s inflated energy prices.
“Given the steady increase in natural-gas prices, it’s a critical thing for people to consider today,” said Jeff Ackerman of Energy Saving Partners, a low-income energy-efficiency agency in Colorado.
Xcel Energy is forecasting that the average residential heating bill this winter will be $171 a month, up 35 percent from last winter’s record $127.
But the pain of increases can be mitigated. The lowest-cost and easiest solution? Turn down the thermostat and put on a warm sweater. Every degree a thermostat is lowered shaves 3 percent off a heating bill.
Other improvements require financial investments, with varying periods of time to recover costs. Here’s a look at a few:
Programmable thermostat. One of the most cost-effective ways of reducing heating bills. The thermostats can be programmed to automatically turn heat down at night and during daytime hours when nobody is home, then turn heat up before residents wake or return home from work.
The cost of the thermostats ranges from about $35 to more than $100, depending on features and the number of programs. Heat savings can average $18 a month, offering a payback period of three months or less.
Seal duct leaks. A furnace is only as good as the ducts that carry heat through the house. Ducts with significant leaks can cost at least $400 a year.
Detecting and repairing leaks can be difficult, requiring a skilled homeowner or an energy professional. But the estimated cost of about $450 to hire out the work and pay for materials could pay for itself in a little more than one year.
Heating and cooling system tune-up. Gas furnaces or boilers should be cleaned and serviced annually. The exhaust pipe should be checked for loose connections or corrosion. Check for burn marks, which would indicate a draft or combustion problem. Change or clean furnace filters every month.
A well-functioning furnace, boiler or air conditioner can save about $200 a year.
Seal household air leaks. Air infiltration through cracks, gaps and holes can boost heating costs by as much as 30 percent. It also contributes to moisture, noise, dust and pest problems.
Caulk should be used to seal gaps of less than one-half inch. Bigger holes require spray foam. Weatherstripping prevents air leaks around windows and doors.
Costs can range from a few dollars for materials up to $500 or more for extensive jobs done by hired workers. Even at higher costs, payback periods can be two years or less.
Insulate attic. Most newer homes are well-insulated. Many older homes were insulated under older building codes that are now viewed as substandard.
Upgrading to current building codes that require R-38 attic insulation in a 1970s-era home with R-19 insulation carries an estimated cost of about $500, with annual savings of $150. Xcel Energy suggests R-50 attic insulation, which costs more but also accelerates the payback period.
Insulate walls. This is one of the most important, and overlooked, home energy projects, according to certified energy auditor Dennis Brachfeld, who notes that wall insulation wasn’t a part of the building code until 1979.
While energy loss from windows attracts plenty of consumer attention, walls occupy much more surface area of a typical home than windows.
Insulating all exterior walls to R-11 in a typical home carries an average cost of $1,042 with annual savings estimated at $250. Xcel recommends R-25 for exterior wall insulation.
New gas furnace. Thoroughly seal and insulate the home first. This may enable purchase of a smaller furnace at lower cost.
The purchase and installation of a high-efficiency gas furnace can range from $2,000 to $3,000, with annual savings of about $270 compared with lower-efficiency units.
New gas water heater. Higher-efficiency water heaters at an average cost of $650 can save $20 a year over lower-efficiency models. Hot-water costs also can be significantly reduced with the use of low-flow shower heads and sink faucets.
New windows and skylights. One of the most expensive projects with the longest payback period. Installing double- pane windows in a 2,000- square-foot home will cost an estimated $9,000 to $15,000, with typical annual savings of $300 compared with older, single- pane windows.
But the value of window replacement should also include improvements to home appearance and comfort in addition to simple payback periods, Brachfeld said.
That applies to most other projects as well, he said. If a home owner derives satisfaction from an improvement, for comfort, environmental or energy-efficiency reasons, those factors may outweigh a slower return.
Kathleen Kautz, an 86-year- old Westminster homeowner, last year had crawl-space insulation installed under her cold bedroom floor and liked the resulting increase in comfort.
This year, she plans to add more ceiling insulation and cover gaps above her recessed lights.
“I figure at my age, I probably won’t live to recover the investment,” she said. “But I’ll be happy to put the monthly savings in my bank account instead of Xcel Energy’s account.”
Staff writer Steve Raabe can be reached at 303-820-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com.
