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Renovating

Renovation projects offer a great opportunity to increase the energy efficiency and comfort of a home. Small renovations may include upgrading the lighting system and basic appliances or weather stripping. Major projects might involve replacing windows, adding insulation, putting on a new roof, redoing a kitchen or bathroom, adding a room, or gutting a building to its shell and creating a new interior. Regardless of the scope of a renovation project, it should be viewed as a chance to improve the home's energy performance.

Prior to the start of a renovation or remodeling project is also a great time to perform a home energy audit. The results of an energy audit may identify additional improvements which can be included in the renovation project and provide energy savings to the homeowner.

Renovation projects offer the chance to add insulation or improve the air tightness of the home. For example, in bathrooms, the exterior walls behind tubs and showers are often inadequately insulated and poorly air sealed. Renovating a bathroom provides an opportunity to insulate and air seal this area when replacing the tub or shower enclosure and to install a low-flow shower head and faucets to conserve water. In addition, a low-flow model of toilet consumes only 1.6 gallons per flush as compared to older models that use from 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush.

This approach of incorporating energy efficiency improvements can be used in any home renovation project and alerts the homeowner to opportunities to improve insulation, eliminate air leaks, and trade up to more efficient home appliances. The combined effect is lower energy bills and a more comfortable home.