Focus on Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
This organization can show you how to save on the heating and lighting of your home.
Today’s homeowners want a comfortable, healthy, durable and safe environment that is also energy-efficient, adds value and saves them money. But how do they choose which improvements will bring the most value to their home?
To make their homes’ interiors look and feel more inviting, many consumers place granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and wood floors at the top of their wish lists. Insulated walls and attics and energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment are typically lower on their lists. But where should they rank?
According to the Department of Energy, owners of existing homes can save as much as 20 percent on their utility bills by making energy-efficient home improvements – and possibly more, depending on the type of home improvement. (Info at bit.ly/
FOE savings) A home built today using energy efficiency standards can be up to 100 percent more energy-efficient than the average new home built in Wisconsin.
So which improvements bring the most value? Simpler upgrades like replacing compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, or adding sealant around windows and installing weather stripping around doors are the quickest and best initial course of action. But homeowners tend to shy away from larger energy-efficient improvements such as adding attic insulation or replacing an inefficient furnace unless they are absolutely necessary. The higher price tags may convince them to ignore the fact these improvements often add significant value and comfort to their homes, and save them money. The truth is, these energy-efficient improvements make a difference, and organizations like Focus on Energy help homeowners understand which improvements make the most sense for them and provide financial incentives to make the upgrades more affordable.
Focus on Energy is an organization that partners with 108 Wisconsin electric and natural gas utilities, including We Energies in the Milwaukee area. Focus on Energy provides information, resources and financial incentives to help Wisconsinites implement energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects. Established in 2001, the program has helped more than 2.8 million Wisconsin residents and
businesses save more than $730 million in energy costs. These figures account for thousands of individual successes – stories of energy savings, lower utility bills and positive environmental impacts.
If you’re building a new home or want to improve the energy efficiency of your existing home, here are a couple of Focus on Energy programs you should consider.
• NEW HOME CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
This program pairs prospective homeowners with builders and energy experts to construct new homes that are 25 percent to 100 percent more efficient than homes built to Wisconsin’s Uniform Dwelling Code. They are built to be comfortable, durable, combustion-safe and as energy-efficient as possible, and they receive certification from Focus on Energy following inspection. In addition to getting a more energy-efficient home, homeowners enjoy other benefits, including:
•
Dedicated builders – Focus on Energy rewards builders for constructing homes to be as efficient as possible, so you know your new home will be built to save energy for years to come.
•
Lower energy bills – A Focus on Energy Certified New Home is at least 25 percent more efficient than homes merely built to code, which means lower energy costs and more efficient performance.
•
Comfort – Expect air-tightness that minimizes drafts and creates superior indoor air quality. Sealed combustion equipment and carbon monoxide detectors ensure combustion safety and whole-house ventilation for proper circulation.
•
Proof of quality – Your building performance consultant conducts two site visits to review construction and overall performance; conducts scientific tests to ensure the proper performance of air-sealing, insulation, ventilation and combustion
equipment; and certifies your home.
• Resale advantage – A Focus on Energy new home certification offers added value when you’re looking to resell your home.
• HOME PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
To achieve the greatest benefits, it is best for homeowners to view their existing homes as systems with many different parts all working together. The right mix of improvements can make a huge difference in a home’s performance. Even if you already have ideas for specific areas in your home you want to address, a home energy assessment is the best place to start.
A home energy assessment helps address concerns such as high energy bills, comfort concerns (such as drafty rooms) or mold and moisture issues. It includes in-depth testing using diagnostic tools and modeling software, and health and safety testing. Homeowners receive a comprehensive report with recommendations for how they can address their home’s comfort concerns, details on how recommended improvements will save them energy, and information on how to receive incentives from Focus on Energy by making the recommended improvements.
This program also offers incentives for replacing old or inefficient heating and cooling equipment. Homeowners choose from a menu of energy-saving options, including a new furnace, boiler, smart thermostat or water heater. Incentives are available for each individual improvement, and higher incentives are offered for multiple upgrades.
Homeowners work on these projects with Focus on Energy Trade Ally contractors who have specialized training, as well as access to program incentives and resources that set them apart from other contractors.
Focus on Energy also offers many other programs, including appliance recycling, lighting discounts at local retailers, solar and geothermal renewables, and energysaving packs sent directly to your home. For more information about Focus on Energy, visit focusonenergy.com.
• ADDITIONAL KEY FINDINGS:
• Focus on Energy served customers at more than 113,000 residences and more than 5,100 businesses in 2017.
• An estimated 873,000 Wisconsin customers took advantage of lighting discounts at retail locations across the state.
• An independent evaluation shows Focus on Energy’s customer satisfaction rating is at an all-time high of 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being extremely satisfied. ◆