Custom Vac Offers Homeowers
an Option to Rising Home Energy Bills
Winnipeg, MB, March 7, 2000 - Brian Baker, said
today that with energy prices on the rise again and a hot summer
fast approaching, it is imperative that homeowners to consider
the big picture when spending their renovation dollars.
Baker, president of Custom Vac Limited has been participating with the EnerGuide for Houses Program
a Federal Government initiative designed to educate and improve
homeowner comfort, reduce energy use, save money on energy bills,
offer a plan to include energy efficiency upgrades when renovating
and allow comparisons when buying a home.
The EnerGuide Program is conducted through an Independent Energy
Evaluator who is trained and experienced to perform a whole-house
audit. "The program has been just great for our customers" said
Baker. Since August, 1999, Custom Vac Limited has participated
in the EnerGuide of Houses Program to educate customers how proper
furnace sizing, ventilation requirements and serious issues such
as depressurization of homes can affect their health, comfort,
energy costs and safety.
Program Results
A few results from The
EnerGuide for Houses Program, as of November 25, 1999 were:
- The average home in Manitoba is 61% efficient in terms of
energy efficiency.
- The highest score was 78% and lowest 27%.
- Homeowners following through with the recommended energy efficiency
upgrades could see an average estimated savings of 22% or $376.00
per year.
- Baker said, "I doubt that the average Canadian knows that
82% of their homes energy bill is for space heating, comfort
cooling and domestic hot water use."
- (GHG) greenhouse gas emission projections for 2000 were approximately
68 metric tones. A breakdown of total residential (CO2) carbon
dioxide emissions is; space heating 59.9%, cooling 0.4% and
domestic water heating 22.1%.
- In 1995 GHG represented 12% of all Canada's emissions.
Homeowners following
the recommended renovation and retrofit suggestions by increasing
the efficiency of their homes, meeting the new energy targets
has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 2.9 metric tones/house/year.
Items such as basement insulation and air leakage were amongst
the two top items with the largest savings opportunity. Replacing
the heating appliance indicated savings of 18-31%, significant
when you consider that the Canadian average for space heating
was 61.1%.
"The
House as System"
"No mater what kind of (HVAC) heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
systems that homeowners have, they can save money and increase
comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading their equipment",
said Baker. But it should be emphasized that installing an energy-efficient
furnace alone, for instance will not have as great an impact on
energy bills as taking a whole-house approach. The whole house
approach commonly referred to a "The House as a System"
takes into consideration all aspects of the home and how each
system within that home interacts with each other.
"It's critical that homeowners deal with a contractor who understands
building science and "The House as a System"
said Baker. The complexity of today's HVAC systems requires that
technicians understand the interaction of systems with homes today
and failure to hire companies that do not have these trained and
qualified technicians often results in serious health and safety
issues for the occupants.
By hiring a professional Contractor and combining proper equipment
maintenance and upgrades, with appropriate insulation, weatherization,
and thermostat settings, homeowners can cut their energy bills,
and their pollution output.
"We're proud to be associated with the EnerGuide for Houses Program,
its important to us and our customers" said Baker.
Energy Saving Tips - A Baker's Dozen
The following are some energy-saving heating and cooling tips
that Baker suggests:
1. Set your thermostat
to a lower temperature in the winter when the home is unoccupied
or at night, and as higher in the summer.
You need not be uncomfortable setting back for only part of the
day without sacrificing comfort can result in savings of 10% of
the heating load and 25% of the cooling load. Significant when
you think of how simple a manual task this is. Programmable
thermostats that automatically setback and raise the temperature
are available even with intelligent heat recovery. These thermostats
take energy savings to next level by choosing the best way in
which to bring the temperature back to the desired comfort level.
2. Clean or replace the air
filters once a month or as needed. Regular cleaning of air
filters can result in savings of the heating load by 3%.
Homeowners need to be careful when purchasing air
filters as the Industry is still attempting to regulate to
one standard that would make comparisons easier. Air filters are
made up of many different combinations and efficiency data can
be deceiving, so speak with an HVAC contractor that you can trust
and feel comfortable with. The key though is doing your homework
because that $20.00 or $150.00 filter may not do all that the
salesperson said it would.
3. Clean ducts, warm air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as
needed. Make sure that they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting
or drapes.
Good air distribution is one of the key factors to maintaining
a comfortable environment.
4. Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice
a season.
If in doubt about how to do this, consult with a contractor to
show you how to perform basic homeowner maintenance.
5. Use heat reflectors behind radiators to reflect the heat
back into the room where the added heat will improve comfort.
6. Use source exhaust fans such as kitchen range fans, bathroom
fans and all other ventilation fans wisely.
In just one hour, these fans can pull out a large quantity of
warmed or cooled air. Ventilation air in a home can contribute
to as much as ¼ of the homes space heating energy costs. Shutting
off exhaust fans as soon as they have done their job will result
in better control of the energy wasted.
Homeowners should, when
upgrading ventilation systems consider installing heat recovery
and energy recovery ventilators. These types of systems have become
the standard in new housing due to better overall indoor comfort
and energy cost savings. If you are simply upgrading an existing
fan make sure that you select one with a low (sonnes) sound level
rating, new fans are available that are exceptionally quiet, they
cost more but worth the money.
7. During the heating season, keep draperies and shades
on south-facing windows open during the day to allow warm sunlight
to enter the home, during the summer keep the window coverings
closed to keep the heat out during the day.
8. When replacing windows consider ones that are rated as
LowE. You should also consider windows that incorporate heat mirror
technology these windows let heat in but not out and your unobstructed
view can be preserved. Awnings can help existing windows be more
efficient by filtering out heat yet allowing light in. Awnings
can decrease air conditioner size by one size.
9. Select energy efficient appliances and look for EnerGuide
labels.
10. Using only cold-water washes can save 88% and using
full loads can save 10% (% of clothes washer and water heater
energy). Using clotheslines to dry clothes can save 25% and doing
only full loads can save 40% (% of clothes dryers energy).
Conducting
your own home energy audit will reveal many areas that you can
improve upon without sacrificing comfort, convenience and lifestyle.
11. Plant trees to provide a windbreak and to shade your
homes windows and walls. It will also help the environment.
12. Install energy saving devices such as low flush toilets
and showerheads.
13. Showerheads available at most hardware stores use up
to 1/3 less hot water. Check the drips too: one drop every hour
from your hot water faucet can add up to plenty of baths over
the season. These items can result in a savings of 30% (of the
water heating load). When replacing your water heater take the
time to get the facts there are better more efficient water heaters
available.
