Major Home Renovations

Unfortunately, sometimes you really do need to spend significant amounts of money to increase the efficiency and comfort of your home. This page gives some rules of thumb for when you should invest the money to make major improvements in:

Quick Links:

• Windows
• Heating and Cooling
• Onsite Renewable Energy

Windows

The rule of thumb for replacing windows is that if it ain’t broke, don’t replace it. If a window is damaged, it is probably cost effective to replace it. However, if a window is just leaky, there are a number of much more cost-effective solutions. Weather-stripping, caulk, cling film, and insulated blinds can have dramatic effect on reducing your energy consumption at a fraction of the price.

Go to our Efficiency Products page to see some of our recommended solutions.

Heating and Cooling

If they are serviced regularly and you’re changing the filters, air conditioners and furnaces have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years. Boilers have an average lifespan of 30 years. The main issue in replacing HV/AC equipment is making sure you insist on properly sized equipment. Our Energy auditors can assess that for you to make sure you don’t buy more energy intensive equipment than you need. (Click here to schedule an appointment)

Onsite Renewable Energy

Now is the ideal time to invest in onsite renewable energy with prices dropping to a more affordable level and significant tax incentives (in Maryland, DC, and Virginia). It is important to note however, that energy saved through conservation is always the most effective and least expensive first step.

Solar Photovoltaic Panels (PV) convert sunlight directly into electricity. The panels are generally installed on southern-facing roofs and can generate a significant portion of your household’s electricity needs.

Solar Hot Water Heaters can be a cost-effective way to heat the water in your home. There are numerous types, but all can drastically reduce your energy bills and your environmental impact.

Geothermal systems are often misunderstood to require tropical climates or volcanoes, but they can actually be installed almost anywhere. Geothermal systems utilize the difference in ground temperatures to create electricity. Like with HV/AC equipment, it is important that you don’t install larger, more expensive equipment than you need, so please contact us if you have any questions or want us to recommend the right sized equipment.

Small Wind Turbines are available for home electricity generation, but the market is currently small.  There are inherent problems with the intermittency of wind, and these turbines seem to work best when they are geared toward powering a specific large appliance or room. If you have a plug-in hybrid or electric car, wind can be a great solution because wind blows more at night, the same time when you are charging your car.