i can haz advise plz? On home energy efficiency?

[Writer]

Here's the stats, to get you up to speed:

Home: Built 1977
Furnace: Original furnace, 31 years-old and functioning, no central AC
Windows: Original windows, seals broken on a couple of them
Insulation: Attic insulation 2" below modern standard, walls are unknown
Lot: Faces north
Area: Boulder County, CO

Is there a company that can help us with the most cost and energy-efficient way to handle the above?

[east texas lib]

1. I cannot answer your question(i don't reside in your area) BUT...

If your furnace is propane or natural gas you DEFINTELY need a carbon monoxide monitor due to the
age of the system. A leak in a heat exchanger can fill your home with carbon monoxide. Very bad.
If your furnace is electric, no sweat.

[Writer]

3. We do have a monitor in its room... so far, no buzzing or beeping.

I hate having such a relic for a heating system, though. I seriously doubt that it's very efficient.

[LeftyMom]

2. Does your utility do an energy audit?

Ours will come out for the low low price of free and tell you what's causing waste and help you figure out the best order to prioritize upgrades. They also give out free shade trees, and do cheap loans for a bunch of other upgrades.

Is it any wonder why I keep telling people municipal utilities are the way to go?

Anyhow, without looking I'd say:

Probably relatively cheap fixes:

Definitely do more attic insulation, either rolled or blow-in in the attic. You can rent the equipment for the blow-in at Lowes.
Get the furnace serviced by somebody honest and well recommended.
Put in shade trees as needed. This is a long term solution, but a cheap one that will also improve the value of your home. Be very careful about selecting the right size trees and the right location- expert advice now can save on expensive problems later.
Find out if you can get the seals fixed on the windows rather than replace them. Some companies specialize in this.
Don't neglect obvious stuff like old appliances, bad door seals, etc. Usually the worst energy offenders are the AC unit (not a problem in your case, since you don't have one, and the fridge. If your fridge is more than ten years old, consider replacing it.

Possible upgrades:

Would a whole house fan be a good cooling option?
Would an attic fan help to keep your house cool?
Replace the bad windows if needed and not terribly expensive.
Drill into the wall in an inconpicuous place to find out how much insulation you have. Consider adding more, at least on the sides that get summer sun.

[Writer]

4. These are great suggestions...

thanks!

We have a whole house fan, but it has not done a good job of cooling the house this summer. In fact, it's been almost unbearable. We have shut all the windows and operated the furnace fan only during the day, then as the sun sets have turned on the house fan with open windows (at the suggestion of the previous owners). We also have a swamp cooler that helps a little.

I'll DEFINITELY check with the utility company! Great idea. I know that reinsulating the attic is relatively inexpensive.

Wall insulation: Do you know how that's done? Will that require a lot of drywall patching?

[LeftyMom]

8. I'm under the impression that you drill a pretty small hole and blow it in somehow.

I don't really know the details though.

[triguy46]

5. Not sure I understand your question...

Are you asking if there is some company to assess and evaluate? If so, call your local electric/gas utility company, should be a freebie to do a home energy analysis.

If you're asking "is there someone to pay for it besides me" my guess is no, but certain expenditures do qualify for federal and some state tax credits.

If you're looking at an HVAC retrofit, consider a ground source/geothermal heat pump. Quit burning gas and use the earth to heat and cool your home (its a method of extracting energy from the constant temperature of the earth, not a hot spring or steam deal).

[Writer]

6. Geothermal pumps...

how are those in price in comparison to a furnace?

[triguy46]

7. Higher cost of install. Much much lower monthly costs....

For more information go to: http://www.igshpa.okstate.edu/geothermal/faq.htm


We have had ours for only a week, so cannot comment on total savings. We had to have 2, 200 foot wells dug, to get the 2 tons cooling needed.

[GOPisEvil]

9. I agree with LeftyMom.

Call your local utility. Austin Energy has a program with certain retailers. Someone from the company comes out, does an energy audit and makes recommendations. I got a new furnace and central a/c, duct sealing, solar screen and an ass-load of insulation. My a/c bill is 2/3 what it was; in a mild summer like last year, my a/c bill was cut in half.

Oh yeah, I got about $1500 in rebates and a tax credit.