Numbers Do Not Lie, Green Building = Saved $$$.
The numbers do not lie; we doubled the size of our 1400 square foot home in Connecticut and with easy to use Green Building practices and technology back in 2008 and the result are that we lowered our heating bill by over 15%. Our average oil consumption over 2 years (2011 & 2012 compared to 2005 & 2006) was lower by over 30% while doubling our living space. We did add an efficient gas fireplace that provides heat and once that is taken in our heating bill is still 15% lower than before the addition.
What did we do?
The original home was built in 1928 but all the windows had already been replaced with thermal pane units and all the doors had weather stripping. On the original home we blew in fiberglass insulation into the 2 by 4 walls and add an additional R-19 on top of the existing R-19 in the attic. Along with that we weather-stripping and adding an insulated blanket to the attic hatch and a few more minor patches here and there.
New addition we did the following:
- Windows were low-e gas filled double pane units.
- Maximized southern exposure for passive solar with summer awning.
- Doors where high energy efficient units.
- Install a High Efficient HVAC system.
- Installed ceiling fans.
- Installed programmable thermostats throughout house.
- Multiple HVAC zones for easy control.
- 2 by 6 exterior wall framing with blown in Cellulose insulation.
- 12+ inches of Cellulose in the attic.
- Reduced the amount of ceiling light cans to a minimum and used Insulated Cans.
- Installed continuous air barrier especially along tubs, showers, stairs and knee walls.
- All cuts through exterior of wall filled with expandable foam.
- Windows to framing space filled with low expandable foam.
All this was done in 2008 before “Green” building was in the mainstream, then it was called common sense quality building using and experience crew who kept up with current building practices and technology.
With using these building techniques and high quality building materials we did not have to replace the boiler (even though we more than doubled the size of the home) nor the existing HVAC system.
Here are a few more tips and facts along with links on how to save on your heating bill.
~ Home heating accounts for about 30 percent of the energy used in the home, tips to lower your bill. http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/overview-home-heating-systems
~ By dialing your thermostat down 10° to 15° (-12.2°C to -9.4°C) for 8 hours, you can save about 5 to 15 percent a year on your heating bill. http://www.practicallygreen.com/actions/turn-thermostat-down-by-4-degrees-in-the-winter
~ Proper maintenance can save you big:
Clean registers/baseboard and radiators
Tune up your system yearly
Seal Ducts
Replace filters regularly
http://www.aceee.org/consumer/heating#improve
Before After
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David Popoff is a Connecticut license real estate agent in lower Fairfield County. He has lived and worked in the area for over 30 years and now reside in Darien since 2004.
- Green Affiliations.
- Realtor GREEN designation by the National Association of Realtors.
- David Popoff is an accredited LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) Homes and USGBC member of the Connecticut chapter (CTGBC).
- Associate member and an accredited Certified Green Professional (CGP) of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the local chapter HBRA-Fairfield County, Ct.
- Member of the HBA CT Green Homes Council.
- Member of the Multiple Listing Service, MLS.
- Darien
- Greenwich
- Greater Fairfield County
- Member of the Connecticut Association of Realtors, CAR.
- Member of the National Association of Realtors, NAR.
- Contact David Popoff at William Pitt Sotheby’s for all your real estate needs in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Rowayton and the rest of lower Fairfield County.
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