In these tight economic times, it seems everybody is looking for a way to pinch pennies. One of the best places to begin is in the home. But the commitment to lower utility bills requires biting the bullet and opening the wallet.

There are many home improvements that will start you down that frugal road - insulation, radiant barrier foil, and replacing your incandescents with fluorescents. But a huge ROI is installing replacement windows.

There are a lot of variables to consider. It’s a balance between budget, aesthetics, and the geographic area you’re located in. Another consideration is what you need to install in order to order to qualify for an energy tax credit. It’s not enough to simply have Energy Star products like it is with refrigerators or dishwashers.

Where you live is as important. What will qualify in Wisconsin is not necessary the same as in Texas. What wacky, goofy, out-of-touch guys those legislators up in Washington are.

Then there’s the choice of filler in double-pane windows. The most common choices are air (poor), argon (better), and krypton (best, and not just because it freaks Superman out).

The prices for these three fillers go from low to high along with their efficiency. Krypton doesn’t cost more just to clean out your bank account; the gas itself is expensive. Many experts will tell you that the price isn’t justified as the payback time frame is so darned long.

Read more about fillers, pros and cons of the different types of frame materials, the U-factor, and how the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) applies to your choice. Education is key before you talk to a salesman.

Other related articles:

• Save Money with Door and Window Weatherstripping
• A Certified Home Inspector can Improve Energy Efficiency
• Save Money with Solar Window Film

I know; the first time I heard of soy-based insulation, I also had a what-the-heck moments too. It’s true though. It is available in both open-cell and closed-cell versions; the closed kind is best suited to exterior walls and the open for the interior.

One problem is that it is hard for the DIYer to retrofit because of things like, well, drywall, brick, and siding. But for new home construction it’s hard to beat. Read the whole article on soy insulation.

If this thing really takes off, I wonder if the same thing will happen to corn due to ethanol. What a misguided concept that is. Problem is, corn is one of those primary products. It goes into all kind of livestock and chicken feed. It goes into cereal and many canned and boxed foods

It’s the old law of supply and demand. When more of the available corn crops go to fuel initiatives, the price goes up. Ergo, food prices go up, up, and away, just like the old Superman show on TV. In fact, this morning on the news, it was announced that this summer the price on meat will be the highest in 20 years.

I suppose you could always go vegan. As long as you don’t include corn in your meager bottom-of-the-food-chain food lineup.

But back to insulation. Add it to your home. You will save money every month on your utility bills and you can claim an energy tax credit the next time you file your taxes. I know - I lowered my bottom line during the last filing for both attic insulation and radiant barrier foil, which is classified as an insulating product.

So, the bottom line is insulate thyself. And stock up on meat by-products while you still can.

You will also want to read:

• Radiant Barrier Foil and Paint
• Save Money with Door and Window Weatherstripping
• Great Ways to Get the Most out of Your Air Conditioner

It’s true that it’s still cold out there, but summer will be here before you know it. So what’s the rationale for a home inspection just now? For one thing, those income tax refunds are just around the corner. If you want to find out what you need to do to conserve energy next summer and have time to do it, a certified home inspector will give you a great deal of relevant info.

For example, you might get recommendations on adding insulation, caulking windows, or installing radiant barrier foil. But a home inspector will also load you down with other info - structural integrity of the structure, condition of plumbing, foundation damage; things like that.

Note that there’s a difference between home inspectors and energy auditors. An energy auditor is more tightly focused on energy conservation, so the only aspects of the structure he or she is interested in is how it relates to your energy bill.

For example, he’ll do a blower door test. This will tell how “tight” the envelope of your home is. In general, the tighter it is, the more AC or heater air is escaping.

You should also ask for that a thermal or thermographic imaging be done. You’ve probably seen one of these on a weather report on TV. It’s a colored picture where the redder an area is, the hottest it is and bluer, cooler. This will indicate both leaks and the absence of insulation.

So basically, what you pay one of these pros is like Karma; you’ll get paid back in the long run.

Related Articles:

Save Money with Solar Window Film

Install Insulation to Save Energy

One of the buzzwords that’s been going around the home energy saving aficionado crowd is “tight envelope”. What’s this? Basically, making the home’s exterior surface (interface to the outside world) as air-tight as possible.

It minimizes the transfer of hot/cold air to and from the home’s living space. Interestingly, or perhaps not, this way of saving money dovetails with green building and LEED certification, hopefully.

The Exterior Walls is Where it all Begins

The exterior walls are a major surface area, and it only increases when the home goes over one story high. One problem with homes over 30 years old or so is that they weren’t always built with insulation. Retro-fitting with loose-fill and spray insulation is possible but intrusive.

But for new construction, there are three great approaches:

• Conventional wood framing. Framing with wood studs is very economical. Once the sheathing, vapor barrier, and even siding have been installed, the walls can be insulated with spray foam or fiberglass batts before hanging sheetrock.
• Metal stud framing. The same as wood framing without the warping potential and fire hazard.
• Insulated concrete forms. ICFs are green and sustainable and work well in areas that suffer from wildfires, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
• Structural insulated panels. SIPS are also a green building option. They offer all the economy of labor and energy efficiency of ICFs without the concrete. SIPs are sandwiches of OSB and rigid insulation that are building blocks for modular construction.

Most of the current green building measures focus on energy saving items like creating a tight envelope, using the recommended amount of wall and attic insulation, using salvaged and sustainable construction materials, and outfitting with Energy Star appliances. But is there more to it? Sure there is.

Consider Water Conservation

Lately there has been a great deal of concern over the availability of clean, potable water. It’s always an issue in third-world developing countries, but there’s the occasional fluster in the Western US over water rights. Other parts of the country have their own woes during droughts when water rationing takes effect. No car washing, no lawn watering, no vegetable garden action, etc.

Now the folks that make water delivery in the home both possible and attractive are getting into the green business.

John Fitzgerald, who is the Director of Marketing of the Chicago Faucet Company, puts it this way, “We regard sustainability as an opportunity to travel down new roads with our customers. Sustainability and social responsibility are closely interrelated and are important subjects for Chicago Faucets in thinking and acting in research and development and in production.”

Of course, we’ve had it up to here with low flow this and low flow that. It works well when shower heads have flow restricters installed, but toilets don’t make the grade unless they are properly designed or have some kind of turbo accelerator to take care of business.

In any event, look for your plumber to become a more caring, sensitive, politically correct person.

Find reviews on the services you need at Angie’s List - from electrician to physician - Use promo code SAVE TEN for $10 off!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to run!

Although there will be better times coming, this is the best time yet to build an energy efficient home. Well, from a green building practices standpoint anyhow, it not from a getting a construction loan standpoint. If it ain’t one thing, it’s another.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are becoming more common in home building. It’s not only easy on the utility bills once the home is completed, it’s really an economical way to do the building.

SIPs are basically panel sandwiches made of OSB for the bread and rigid foam plastic insulation for the meat and cheese; plus pickles, if you wish.

So the panels are pre-engineered by an architect using using home design software and put together. They are assembled at the job site. This cuts down on the labor for construction (time), and waste to be hauled off to the land fill (scrap). The later is one of the tenets of green building practices accepted by LEED.

Now I must admit, if I was building a new home right now, I would go with ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms). But then again, I live here in hurricane land. That’s one of the drawbacks. Things like the possibility of hurricanes are the trade off for living somewhere where I can be involved in long distance running all year long without dressing like Jerimiah the mountain man.

So if you have a new house on the horizon, do yourself a favor and plan to lower your air conditioning and heating utility bills before they even hook up the meter. This advice is free!

When it comes to making the home energy efficient, windows are a huge issue. After all, although they let in the light, they let in the light. What I mean to say is that on the one hand, we don’t have to burn every light in the house during the day, and on the other hand, they also let in heat. So they beg for energy-savings steps.

The question is, does it make more sense to replace the existing contractor grade windows with double or triple glazed argon-filled Energy Star windows (whew, that’s a mouthful!), or compromise budget and efficiency and install solar window film?

The Home Envelope

First, a bit of an overview to put it all in perspective. How efficient the home is depends on the entire home envelope. I love radiant barrier foil in the attic. It is more effective (in the big picture) in a one-story house than a two-story house. Why? Because with one floor, the roof is a larger percentage of the total envelope.

Conversely, on a two story, windows comprise a bigger envelope percentage than they do on a one story (Two stories = twice as many windows). What I’m trying to say here is that all renovation projects that lower utility bills are important, but each home’s priorities are different.

Let’s get this out of the way first - do your radiant barrier as a first line of defense. And do this job yourself. Labor charges double the price of the project and only the cost of the material is eligible for the stimulus package energy tax credit.

Now, Focus on Energy-Efficient Windows

Alright, how much money do you have left? In the real world, this determines what to do about the windows. Energy Star replacement windows are optimal, but boy, are they proud of them at the check-out counter. If you can afford them, go for it. Don’t forget to upgrade your homeowners insurance policy.

This is likely not a DIY project for most folks.

On the other hand, solar window film is a great DIY job, considering that you have patience. And it makes less of a mess than complete window replacement. It’s available in several shades, and if you’re after privacy, there’s a mirrored finish available.

As a further compromise, your remodeling budget might justify replacement windows on the side of the house that takes the sun’s hammer most violently, and apply film on the more docile sides.

So in answer to, “Window replacement or window film?,” the answer, like many things in life is, “It depends.” Don’t you love it when I’m ambivalent?

It feels good to have this little project behind me. I added insulation, five rolls of R-30 to the areas that needed it. The original was blow-in insulation and some of it had settled over time, as it is wont to do.

The method of foil installation I did was simply covering the attic floor. Yesterday I posted an article of the things I learned - radiant barrier foil installation tips. Much of it was common sense to me, but I’ve had many years in the trades. Some DIYers out to save labor costs might not have that advantage.

Anyone that doesn’t want to fool around in an itchy, hot attic can just hire a handyman. Professional installers charge as much per square foot for labor as the material costs, or thereabouts.

And you know what? The air conditioner is already cycling far less than it did this time last year. And who doesn’t want to save the bucks in this depressed recession economy?

Here’s the deal; both the foil and the insulating material are eligible for an energy tax credit this year. In fact, it’s been increased quite a bit as a part of Obama’s economic stimulus package. But, (and here’s the rub), only the cost of the material qualifies, not the labor cost.

I’m not sure if this project was a remodeling project, technically speaking, but it’s close enough that I added it to my Perpetual Remodeling Project article saga for those readers that have been following my progress.

What’s next there? Building and installing a bathroom medicine cabinet. In fact, that’s what I was on when this foil project came up. I wanted to shift gears before the summer heat made the attic blaze like a furnace. Now I can get back to my running routine. I miss those endorphins…

Green building practices are getting more publicity all the time, but there’s more happening that meets the eye. It’s like it is sneaking on stage. Wanting to stay current on the topic, I set up a Google alert on the phrase about a month ago.

Every day now I get an email listing links to articles on green building. Folks, this trend is gathering steam. For example, C&L Refrigeration is now building LEED certified storage facilities. C&L has clients like Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Golden State Foods and Miller Brewing Co.

Weyerhaeuser and Owens Corning are making inroads into sustainable residential building materials. I’m here to tell you that even this improved insulation still itches.

Titebond glue has released a complete line-up of green adhesives.

I’ve spent some time adding insulation and radiant barrier foil in my attic lately. It’s really affected the time available for running workouts, dang it! Both products are Energy Star rated so not only will I save on utility bills, I’ll claim a tax credit at the end of the year. Hey, take it while you can, right?

And what an investment. A report from Henley Business School reveals that LEED certified buildings can reap a rental income of up to 31% more than non-certified properties and that the more highly rated the properties are, the greater the rent. Gotta love it. Well, if you’re the landlord.

But it stands to reason that if things like solar panels are used, the renter still makes out like a bandit with respect to energy bills.

I think my next energy reduction project will be to install solar window film, even though it won’t qualify for a tax credit. Aluminum frames aren’t covered. The IRS has some goofy rules. Just one more thing president Nobama should take care of. But won’t.

I got started on my home improvement project yesterday, and as usual, I was just a bit optimistic. I found out why I don’t install radiant barrier foil for a living. I did make a good dent on the job, but got nowhere near finishing.

If you look at the web sites of foil manufacturers, you’re likely to see guys walking around, merrily going about their task. Well, I’m here to tell you, it just ain’t so. At least not in my attic. Our living room has a vaulted ceiling. It’s nice to look at, but the framing makes negotiating the attic space a bit daunting.

All this “work” is seriously cutting into my running time. That stinks on ice.

Don’t get me wrong. I know this project will pay off. I already sprayed radiant barrier paint up there a few years ago, and that really cut my utility bills, but this Energy Q Thermal Barrier foil will block 97% of heat. So they tell me.

At $0.43 per square foot you can’t go wrong.


I’m also adding insulation as I go along. That part isn’t fun but it will also pay off. And the good thing is that all these materials are eligible for the energy tax credit. Not my labor cost, but I guess you can’t have everything.

Now I’ll have to update my homeowner’s insurance policy…