Green Homes Special Series: Part Six: HVAC

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Where to Start Today’s HVAC is more than just the equipment that heats, cools and ventilates our home. It is the intersection of energy efficiency and indoor air quality—that point at which our home concerns can merge or collide, depending on how we address them. Leaky ducts often account for 20 percent of total heating and cooling costs. Duct tapes do not provide a permanent seal. Experts recommend duct sealing mastic, a thick paste that can be used on all duct materials and provides a permanent seal. Photo © Southface – Responsible Solutions for Environmental Living There are many reasons for a home to feel uncomfortable, says David Lee, Director for the Residential Branch-Energy Star New and Existing Homes Program at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You can put in an Energy Star-qualified air conditioner but if it is not installed properly or the duct distribution system is incorrectly designed or leaky, your home will still be uncomfortable. The refrigerant charge, the airflow across the coil and whether the A/C was sized properly can all play roles. That’s why it is increasingly important to take a holistic approach when looking at your home’s HVAC. Instead of thinking that the only solution is to replace a furnace or air conditioner, first determine why your home is inefficient. A no-cost way to get started is through the Energy Star web site. Gather a year’s worth of utility bills, click on the site’s Energy Star Home Advisor and answer a few questions about your home mechanicals. You’ll get some recommendations to consider. Next, go to the Home Energy Yardstick. Enter some basic data and see how your home stacks up with other U.S. homes, your pollution output and other possible improvements. Then, read the information on the site to get an understanding of what’s happening in this field. Next, consider more specific advice for your home. A trained inspector could provide an energy audit. There are several state programs that certify inspectors and many of them are affiliated with Home Performance with Energy Star, the program from the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Ask a potential inspector what is included in an evaluation, what tests are conducted and if recommendations are by priority and might include any cost-benefit analysis.

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