Green Homes Special Series: Part Thirteen: Programs to Help Homeowners with Energy Efficiency

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Congress has allowed numerous federal incentives to make existing homes more energy efficient to expire. As of Dec. 31, 2007, federal residential tax credits for windows, doors, roofs, insulation, HVAC and non-solar water heaters ended. The federal tax credit for solar water heaters and solar panels expires Dec. 31, 2008. A blower door test to check for air leakage in the home is performed at a bungalow in Chicago. (c) Historic Chicago Bungalow Association But those fortunate enough to live in some areas can find programs to help them seal air leaks, change to energy-efficient lighting, upgrade to Energy Star appliances, build right from the start and more. At local, regional and state levels, there are cash-back rewards, tax credits, advice and education to assist residents in reducing energy use. Here’s a look at a few of the programs. Community Initiatives Chicago has about 80,000 bungalows, well-crafted homes with a style unique to this Midwestern city. The historic homes are 1 ½-stories with hipped roofs, face brick on the front and Chicago common brick on the other three sides. Limestone decorative elements and quality wood windows, framing and interior trim enhance the well-constructed homes. The nonprofit Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, with a membership of more than 9,000 households, seeks to preserve these distinct residences. One way is to make them more affordable to live in by making them more energy-efficient. Teaming up with the city of Chicago, the nonprofit Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, and Peoples Gas and Commonwealth Edison, the HCBA offers up to $6,000 to members for energy-efficiency improvements. More than 2,000 bungalow owners have taken advantage of the incentives since they were first offered in 2001. The first goal is to air seal and insulate the homes, says Annette Conti, HCBA executive director. “Most people think first about replacing windows, but we are spreading the word about where they are losing heat.” She says the main culprit is often all of the little gaps in the building envelope. Conti says an HCBA Green Bungalow Blocks program has promoted energy savings on target blocks in 2002, 2006 and 2007 and provides special grants for energy-efficiency upgrades. More than 30 bungalows on those blocks have received an energy audit and recommendations for weatherization. After the bungalows were sealed and insulated, homeowners saw 30 percent to 50 percent savings in energy usage. “It’s just amazing,” says Conti. “If you add up all of the leaks that can occur in a home—gaps around joist pockets in the basement and doors without weatherstripping are common problems in bungalows—it can be the same as having a three-foot by three-foot window open all winter.”

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