What is Energy Efficiency?
Energy efficiency refers to the use of less energy to achieve the same results or perform the same tasks. It involves optimizing energy consumption while maintaining or improving comfort, functionality, and performance levels. Energy efficiency involves the application of technologies, practices, and measures that reduce energy consumption, lower energy costs, and decrease environmental impact.
What is an Energy Efficient Home?
The energy efficient home of the future is one that:
- Provides Free Energy: A carbon-neutral home that supplies its owners with free energy for household needs, heating, cooling, and electric vehicle charging.
- Guarantees a Safe Living Environment: A home that ensures a safe and healthy living space.
- Supports Sustainable Living: A home that is a key element of environmentally and economically sustainable living on a national scale.
Why Should You Care?
Did you know that your house may lose up to 60% of energy due to poor energy efficiency? This can result in:
- Wasting Energy: Literally heating or cooling the street.
- Overpaying for Electricity: Paying more for electricity than necessary.
- Uncomfortable Living: Not being as comfortable as you could be in your home.
- Deteriorating HVAC Systems: HVAC systems deteriorating faster than they otherwise would.
- Health Risks: Using poor quality materials and wrong installation can cause mold and contamination, which can harm your health.
- Global Warming: Wasting energy contributes to global warming, leading to negative environmental changes.
LEAVE A REQUEST NOW!
Get a 10% discount on your first service
FACTS
Did you know that the residential sector alone in the US produces 2,5 times more greenhouse gas than passenger cars?
Houses 1,913.3 million metric tons of CO2 VS Cars 765.5 MMtCO2e in the US per year
Probably not! Because it’s barely discussed in society, unlike cars. However old buildings and poor energy efficiency cause up to 30% of energy loss in the US. So by improving houses, we can reduce eco hazards and also improve our quality of life and save some money.
For residential buildings, the direct and indirect emissions combined amounted to approximately 1,913.3 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MMtCO2e) in 2021, which was about 29% of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. This includes emissions from heating, cooling, lighting, and appliance use within homes (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions) (US EPA).
On the other hand, passenger cars (part of the broader transportation sector) were responsible for about 765.5 MMtCO2e in 2021, which accounts for a substantial portion of the transportation sector’s total emissions.
LEAVE A REQUEST NOW!
Get a 10% discount for your first service
Is Energy Efficiency Improvement Expensive?
Energy efficiency improvement is not necessarily expensive, but it depends on several factors such as the type of construction, age of the building, current HVAC condition, square footage, construction wear and tear, and climate. However, the long-term savings can be substantial.
Factors Influencing Costs
- Type of Construction
- Age of the Building
- Current HVAC Condition
- Square Footage
- Construction Wear and Tear
- Climate
While the initial costs of energy efficiency improvements can be significant, the long-term savings are going to be substantial.
Call us to discuss your specific situation.
Tax Incentives for Homeowners
In New York, homeowners can leverage IRA tax credits to lessen the financial burden of making their homes more energy-efficient. This includes undertaking renovations that save energy, as well as the installation of high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.
The IRA has boosted the previously available Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, now permitting homeowners to deduct 30% of the expenditure on qualified improvements, a significant increase from the previous 10%. From 2023 to 2032, New Yorkers are eligible to receive up to $3,200 annually in efficiency tax credits for approved expenditures. These include:
- A maximum of $1,200 for enhancing the home’s envelope with efficient windows, doors, insulation, and upgrades to electrical panels.
- A maximum of $2,000 for installing air source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and biomass stoves/boilers.
These enhancements are not only cost-effective measures for reducing energy consumption and improving living comfort but also for saving on expenses. Additionally, many of these improvements qualify for further incentives from the State of New York, providing homeowners with financial relief for other domestic investments.
For instance, installations like cold-climate air source heat pumps, which offer heating and cooling solutions, qualify for rebates under the NYS Clean Heat program. Average savings from these environmentally friendly systems range from $2,000-$3,000 for comprehensive solutions to $100-$400 for partial systems.The NYS Clean Heat initiative also offers rebates for ground source heat pumps, which not only benefit from the 30% IRA tax credit but also a 25% credit on New York State income tax. The popularity of heat pump systems has risen both in New York and across the United States, with sales having surpassed gas furnaces in 2022.
LEAVE A REQUEST NOW!
Get a 10% discount on your first order
MainDuct Services for Energy Efficiency Improvement
Energy Audits and Energy Passport
- Comprehensive Energy Audits: We inspect buildings to identify energy leaks and system inefficiencies, creating a detailed energy passport that provides information on the current state of energy efficiency and opportunities for improvement.
- Energy Passport: Document a property’s energy profile to inform current and future owners about the history and potential of energy efficiency improvements.
LEAVE A REQUEST NOW!
Get a 10% discount on your first order
Improving Energy Efficiency of Structural Elements
Building Outline Optimization: Target insulation improvements in areas of greatest energy loss (e.g. doors, windows, roofs), based on energy audit data, to achieve maximum energy efficiency within the available budget.
Thermal Insulation and Sealing
Improving Thermal Insulation: Improving the quality of insulation materials and sealing of heat and cold distribution systems (air ducts), which reduces energy losses and contributes to energy savings of 15 to 50%.
Making Sure Ventilation and Exhaust Systems are Up to Standards
Bringing the Systems up to Standards: Upgrading and adjusting exhaust, ventilation systems and chimneys so that they meet high energy efficiency standards, thereby improving overall safety and reducing energy consumption by 5-30%.
LEAVE A REQUEST NOW!
Get a 10% discount on your first order
Residential Safety (Exhibit 6)
- Healthy Living Environment: Designing ventilation systems to ensure optimal indoor air quality, preventing risks associated with bacterial contamination, mold, “sick building syndrome,” and other health factors.
This point is critical to the sustainability of the energy efficiency trend. The whole point of energy efficiency is in one way or another connected with reducing heat exchange with the environment.
- Proper Maintenance: Ensuring that building life support systems are properly maintained to prevent serious health risks to occupants and the building itself, which can be caused by improper maintenance of even well-installed systems.
Where to Start?
- Ask Yourself These Simple Questions to Assess Your Home’s Infrastructure:
- What do I know about my home?
- What materials are used in my HVAC?
- How old is the infrastructure in my home?
- Is air duct encapsulation done?
- How clean is the air I breathe?
- Does the roof allow heat or cold to pass through?
- Am I comfortable in my home in summer and winter?
- Is my dryer vent made safely?
- Consider Solar Energy: Would you like to switch to solar energy in the future and charge your home and electric car without paying the state for it?
- Tax Deductions: Would you like to receive a tax deduction on energy efficiency improvements?
- Save Money on Electricity: Do you want to save money on electricity?
How We Can Help
- Conduct an Audit: We will conduct an audit and provide a comprehensive report on the condition of your home’s systems.
- Identify Areas for Improvement: We will identify areas for improvement and create an individual action plan.
- Installation and Maintenance: We will dismantle the old parts, purchase environmentally friendly materials, and carry out the installation carefully, strictly in accordance with New York safety codes.
Call now to schedule your energy efficiency improvement consultation and receive a personalized quote.