beneath it or without a jacket on the tank,” he said.
Windows
“The most common energy-motivated retrofit in the United States is windows, but it’s probably one of the least cost-effective,” said Hales. In fact, it generally takes 20 to 25 years to recoup the cost of windows through energy savings, he said. On an annual basis in the Methow Valley, you will lose more heat than you can ever gain through windows, even on warm winter days, said Lamiman. Still, replacing windows with more efficient ones can cut your heat loss by a third, even though it may take a while to pencil out, said Cherrington. Many people want lots of windows to take advantage of views, so Lenchek advises high-performance windows to protect from the summer sun and avoid heat loss in the winter. Lamiman encourages people to frame a view rather than build a wall of windows. What’s really important is
having and using window coverings to control the temperature, she said.
Lights, decks, floors
Lighting is undergoing a major revolution, with the advent of low-cost, high-quality LED lights, said Lenchek. Using 75 percent less electricity than an incandescent light bulb and with a life span 15 times as long, LEDs are dimmable and don’t pose the same disposal issues as compact fluorescents, since they don’t contain mercury, said Lenchek. Take into account how you use the lights. Having multiple light switches will enable you to leave just a single light on, said Lamiman. Other product innovations include materials used for decking – most are now a composite made from recycled wood chips or bamboo. Besides being more durable, they don’t require painting or staining, said Lenchek. “Coatings are a whole other issue for green buildings. How often do you have to paint, and what’s in the paint?” he said. The same goes for floor
coverings. Many carpets are now made from recycled content and don’t emit gas, said Lenchek. Engineered wood floors use a sandwich with a thin layer of hardwood atop a composite of quickly grown trees and are typically finished off-site, where the process can be properly vented. “The more durable the material, the longer it will last – so, by definition, it’s greener,” said Lenchek.
Build it right, use it right
Once it’s built, a “green” home depends on the lifestyle of its inhabitants. “The homeowner is one of the forgotten elements in an energy-efficient home,” said Cherrington. “You could design the most efficient home on the planet, but if the homeowners don’t involve themselves, it won’t be any more efficient.” Among other things, this means opening and closing shades and avoiding running major appliances at once. Some lifestyle habits may seem obvious but are worth
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a reminder. The Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes program offers the following suggestions: • Don’t run the washing machine or dishwasher if it is not full, and allow clothes and dishes to air-dry. • Use cold water whenever possible to wash clothes, since 90 percent of the energy used by a washer comes from heating the water. • Fill your freezer to capacity – if necessary, fill plastic containers with water, cover them and place them in your freezer. • Don’t put your refrigerator in a sunny spot – a 10-percent increase in room temperature can gobble up 20 percent more electricity. • Control phantom loads – all those appliances that are always “on,” ready to power up instantly. And don’t forget about practices at the construction site – donate leftover building supplies to a salvage center such as Methow Resource Recovery and recycle packing materials. B
Educational resources You can rate the energy efficiency of your house through an energy audit or an online worksheet that will give you a good idea of how your house is doing. Try the energy yardstick on the federal ENERGY STAR website, which will calculate your energy consumption. You’ll need information from your utility bills and the square footage of your home. “It’s an educational tool,” said Hales. “You could have a 10-year-old home and think it’s pretty good. But you might be surprised about how standards have changed.” ENERGY STAR Energy-Efficiency Yardstick: www.energystar.gov. Click on “Assess Your Home” under “Home Improvement.” ENERGY STAR: www. northwestenergystar.com and www.energystar.gov. Built Green: Information on certification system for environmentally responsible building and construction; helpful resource listing, www. builtgreen.net.
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