California Center for Sustainable Energy

You’re going to hear a lot about energy efficiency and home performance during 2011, not just from us at CCSE, but also from local municipalities, San Diego Gas & Electric and various energy-related businesses and contractors. That’s because there are several federally funded and state-mandated programs rolling out now and over the next few months to help us reduce energy use, save on utility bills and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Those are truly wonderful goals, but I believe the best part of these efforts is that energy efficiency can make your home life more comfortable.

Often people think home energy efficiency is achieved by simply installing new windows or light bulbs or by adding more insulation, but it really depends on how your home works as a system, not as individual pieces and parts. The process of improving whole house performance begins with an energy assessment – a comprehensive analysis of your home – and ends with you and your family enjoying the benefits of consistent heating and cooling year-round, properly controlled indoor humidity, reduced dust and cleaner air to breathe.

During a home energy assessment, an inspector gathers detailed and extensive information about everything from insulation and windows to your water heater and furnace. Equipment is used to measure air flow and find leaks and to test for gas leaks. All of these data are entered into an energy modeling software program that yields a whole house performance record that is used to identify problems. A final report describes your home performance and lists recommended improvements and associated costs.

The Energy Upgrade California program, set up by the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Energy Commission and administered locally by CCSE and SDG&E, will give you two paths to take. One is a basic package of prescribed improvements that you can take with a set $1,000 rebate. An advanced energy upgrade path is more flexible, with a mix of performance-based upgrades with incentives between $1,250 and $4,000.

The whole house performance approach is the next logical step in improving home energy efficiency with deeper energy reductions and higher cost savings. When integrated with onsite renewable energy, such as a solar photovoltaic system and solar water heating, whole house performance can give you more energy satisfaction and greater comfort. Isn’t that something we could all enjoy?

Continue reading February's newsletter.