The biggest challenge with energy efficiency and green initiatives is to determine the actual return on investment. If done properly, energy efficiency improvements can result in substantial, tangible savings on your day to day energy use.  Our friends at Cotuit Solar and Cape Light Compact have provided a basic chart discussing general return perior for certain improvements.

See Below

ENERGY AND $ SAVING IDEAS 

In the following list, the higher the level, the more cost effective the choices are for reducing energy use in your house/business. So, ideally, one should exhaust the possibilities at the highest level before implementing lower level actions.

PAYBACK IN YEARS and ACTION

0: Get a free energy audit (Cape Light Compact: 800-797-6699), lower house thermostat setting, combine/minimize automobile trips, replace lawn area with garden or natural landscape.

½ - 2: Solar Pool Heat Installation.                     

1-5: Add Attic Insulation; Replace Light Bulbs & Appliances with more energy efficient ones.

3-7: Solar Domestic Hot Water Installation using tax credits.

3-8: Add Window Quilts or Thermal Shades; Install a Wood/Pellet Stove.

5-7: Groundwater Source Cooling/Dehumidifying.

6-8: Wind Power and/or Photovoltaic Solar Installation using MTC (Massachusetts Technology Collaborative) incentive money and tax credits.

6-10: Replace Heating Equipment/Automobile with updated, more efficient technology.

10-15: Reside Building with added insulation & new windows.

15-20: Install Solar Space Heating

 

If you have questions about your next home improvement project please click below for more information:

  With the rising cost of energy, and the push towards high efficiency building and mechanical systems, we are always looking at innovative technology.  Often times, new products and systems may not be ideal in their infancy, but they are indicators of trends in the marketplace, and give a glimpse of the types of things that will become commonplace in the near future.  We came across this heating system by the Steffes corporation that uses a type of heat sink to store electrically produced heat during off-peak demand hours, and then releases that heat to the home over the next 24 hour period.  This takes advantage of the lower electricity rates charged by many utility companies at night. Although this system may not be ideal for every scenario, we like the concept and think we will see more of it in the future.  Here is a link http://www.steffes.com/off-peak-heating/forced-air-furnaces.html

Honda also has a very interesting heating system which uses a cogeneration concept to produce electricity and heat from a single fuel source.  It is called a Climate Energy Micro-CHP system, which has been used in Japan for the last several years. It is a combination of a conventional furnace, and single cylinder internal combustion engine.  There is a substantial (30%) savings in heating and electrical usage in homes with this type of unit.  Here is sime more information on this unique concept: HONDA

If you have questions regarding your home energy efficiency or want to discuss other trends in the marketplace please click here: -Request Info