Ever hear that the difference between a boy and a man is the price of his toys. I thought my moisture meter at $400 was extravagant, but an IR Camera for $5,000 has now is a necessary home inspection tool.

An infrared thermal imaging camera produces an image of heat differences, as opposed to your digital camera, which takes a picture of visible light. IR technology for many years was a primary tool of police, military, science and space programs, but as the price has come down and the opportunity for training has increased, IR cameras are now frequent companions on home inspections. This technology is useful for home inspectors since it essentially permits the inspector to see what is occurring behind walls and other non-accessible areas. The camera measures temperature variances of surfaces to determine where heat, cold, moisture and even mold are in undesirable and inaccessible places.

The technology is based on a simple concept. Different materials retain temperatures dissimilarly. Thermal energy, or infrared, is light energy not visible to our eyes because its wavelengths are too long to be detected by the human eye. Every material with a temperature above absolute zero emits heat and therefore has an infrared radiation footprint. An IR camera is designed to show these patterns with hotter areas depicted as more yellow and red colors, and cooler areas shown as darker colors. This technology permits the IR camera operator to perform material inspections in a noninvasive manner.

For instance, water holds heat and gives it up more rapidly than solid materials, which are slower to heat and cool. This means that a wet area will have a different “temperature picture” on an IR camera image than a dry area. If this is occurring where air is leaking through a hot attic, the camera shows this vividly. Therefore, the IR camera has become a key diagnostic tool used by residential energy auditors. By depressurizing a home utilizing a blower door, Mother Nature demands that for every cubic foot of air ejected out of the home by the fan, one cubic foot of outside air be sucked into the home.

Notice the heat radiating thru the eyes and the Computer monitor

Invariably, the outside air temperature varies from the indoor air temperature, so the auditor can do a quick scan of the outside walls (called the “building envelop” to use more specific terminology) to find faults. With a little caulk and some additional insulation after the building is better sealed, money stops flying out all those failed areas. Energy audit protocols recommend a “test out” with the blower door to demonstrate the reduction in exterior air infiltration.

As a medical diagnostic tool, an IR camera is invaluable and eventually will be found in every doctor’s office. If you have a back problem, for instance, since our bodies attempt to make repairs by accumulating more fluids at pain sites, the temperature of areas of pain will be different (probably higher) that normal tissue. In color mode, an IR camera image will show the warmer temperatures brighter in the yellows and reds than the surrounding areas. This same principle applies to cancerous areas and other injuries. Diagnosing injury to a horse’s leg is being performed routinely with an IR camera for his reason.

Likewise, an IR camera study of a home during a home inspection adds one more diagnostic tool to ensure that the client gets a complete and thorough picture of the home. Also, an existing homeowner complaining of unusual odors or drafts in a home would benefit from an IR camera study. In the years to come, energy auditors will continue to rely on the infrared camera to be more confident that the energy audit shows the property in the proper “light.”

Note: This article was written by Arthur S. Lazerow, Certified RESNET Rater

“Cash for Caulkers” is nearly here. Last month the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5019 – also known as the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 or “Cash for Caulkers” – to kick-start construction, create jobs and cut back carbon emissions. While the bill still needs to clear the Senate, supporters predict it will pass this summer.

This is great news for homeowners and contractors alike. The bill provisions $6 billion for energy-efficient or “green” retrofits. It is expected to fund renovations for 3 million families, create 168,000 new jobs and save consumers $9.2 billion on energy bills over the next 10 years.

But in order to cash in on upcoming rebates, homeowners and contractors will need to do their homework. There are 13 types of retrofits eligible for funding. Each retrofit has unique eligibility requirements and set rebate amounts. You can read the full text here.

We made it really easy to wade through the legalese. Below is a table that breaks down the 13 retrofits of the bill, along with the requirements and rebate amount for each. In addition to the requirements we listed, each retrofit must comply with Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards or other procedures to be approved by the Secretary of Energy.

We also decided to combine these retrofits into three packages that will help homeowners get the best bang for their buck. But first, let’s review the program details.

Who is Eligible and How to Qualify?

The Home Star bill offers two rebate programs, the “Silver Star” program and “Gold Star” program. Here are details for each:

• Silver Star – Unless another amount is specified in the “Rebate Amount” column above, homeowners will receive a $1,000 rebate for each retrofit listed in our table. The maximum amount of rebates paid out will be $3,000 or 50% of the total cost, whichever is lower. For example, if a homeowner spends a total of $4,000 on eligible retrofits, they will get $2,000 or 50% back as a rebate. If they spend $8,000 on eligible retrofits, they would only receive $3,000 in rebates instead of $4,000 (which would be 50% of the cost).
• Gold Star – To qualify for the Gold Star program, homeowners must reduce their total home energy consumption by 20%. A $3,000 rebate will be rewarded for this reduction. Homeowners can receive an additional $1,000 for each additional 5% reduction, up to a total rebate of $8,000 or 50% of the total retrofit cost. Rebates may be provided for any of the retrofits listed under the Silver Star program, or for any other energy-saving measure, including: home energy management systems, high-efficiency appliances, highly reflective roofing, awnings, canopies, and similar external fenestration (window) attachments, automatic boiler water temperature controllers, energy-efficient wood products, insulated vinyl siding, and mechanical air circulation and heat exchangers in a passive-solar home.

The Home Star bill also includes rebates for do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowners that are confident in taking on the renovations themselves. DIY’ers can get up to $250 in rebates for products purchased without installation service. This rebate is limited to attic insulation, crawl space insulation and/or air-sealing retrofits.

Seal Your House Envelope and Improve Insulation

Before carrying out any serious retrofit, homeowners need to weatherize and seal their house “envelope.” The envelope includes outer walls, windows, doors, floors and the ceiling. If the house is not properly sealed and insulated, then subsequent HVAC retrofits won’t be as effective.

Common Air Leaks

In some cases, savvy do-it-yourselfers may be able to handle these projects themselves. There are plenty of books and great online resources (e.g. ACEEE.org) that provide instructions. However, you should seriously consider hiring an auditor beforehand. Special diagnostics equipment will show where air is escaping and to what extent. For example, thermal imaging devices detect areas in walls that are poorly insulated and dispersing heat. This information would be unavailable without such devices.

So how much does it cost to seal all the air leaks in a home? Prices will obviously vary based on where you live, how big your property is and the scope of the retrofit. But it will likely cost a few thousand dollars to hire a contractor for this type of renovation. In this example from the New York Times, the author spent $3,760 for insulating and sealing the envelope of his 1,200 square foot home.

How much can homeowners expect to save? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that homeowners can save 20% on heating and cooling costs by sealing leaks and adding insulation. In New York – one of the most expensive places to heat a home with an average annual cost of $1,513 – this would be a yearly savings of $300 just for heating.

Continuing with the example from the New York Times, the Silver Star program would provide $1,880 (50%) in rebates for their retrofit. At an annual savings rate of $300, the renovation would pay for itself in six years (or less if you include cost savings from reduced air conditioning bills).

Repair and Replace Leaky Ducts

Ducts are notoriously leaky and inefficient. They are one of the usual suspects in a crime of high utility bills, or when rooms are difficult to heat and cool. The EPA calculates that 20% of air moving through ductwork is lost due to leaks, holes and poor connections. Other sources put estimates closer to 40%. So while suffering from “leaky ducts” may sound innocuous, it can have a big impact on the efficiency and costs of heating and cooling your home.

Fortunately, duct replacement and sealing is eligible for funding under the Home Star bill. Many homeowners will want to outsource this project to a qualified HVAC contractor. Contractors have equipment to detect leaks that otherwise may not be immediately visible. They also have methods to seal ducts that are inaccessible. For example, by spraying an adhesive or sealant through the duct work.

Replacing and sealing ducts can also be a DIY project, especially when ducts can be easily accessed in an attic or basement. Leaks should be sealed with mastic sealant or metal tape (not duct tape), then insulated to reduce heat loss and to further improve efficiency. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has an excellent guide on how to seal and insulate ducts.

Upgrade Your Furnace and Water Heater

Heating is the largest energy expense in homes, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). In colder parts of the country, it makes up 30 to 50% of annual energy bills. So improving the heating efficiency of your home will have the biggest impact on lowering your energy costs. Sealing air leaks is a good start, but replacing your heating system could provide real leverage towards cost savings.

If your furnace or boiler was purchased before 1990, then it is time to consider an upgrade. Modern furnaces are much more efficient than those that are older than 20 years. You can use rebates from the Home Star bill to replace your furnace, but you will need to meet their guidelines:

Water heaters are typically the second largest energy users after home heating and cooling systems. Replacing convention oil-fired water heaters with high-efficiency gas or electric heaters can save homeowners thousands of dollars over a 10 to 15 year period. The Home Star bill includes a variety of replacement options eligible for rebates.

Ground Source Heat Pump

An alternative to furnaces and boilers are ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). Also known as geothermal heat pumps, GSHPs are one of the most efficient systems for heating and cooling buildings. According to the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, GSHPs are 50 to 70% more efficient than other heating systems, and 20 to 40% more efficient than traditional air conditioners. They can also be used as an alternative water-heating system and save up to 50% on water-heating bills.

Ground source heat pumps are more economical than using oil or air-source heat pumps, but there is still a lot of debate over GSHPs versus natural gas. Homeowners will need carry out their own due diligence beforehand. For starters, here is an academic report that compares the two options.

Year over year, a ground source heat pump is more cost effective than natural gas. It’s the initial cost that really drives down the return on investment (ROI) and makes natural gas a more attractive option. However, there are several rebates and tax credits available that help subsidize the upfront cost.

Additional Financing Resources

With other legislation in the queue, it might take weeks or months to hear the Senate’s final decision on the Home Star bill. In the meantime, homeowners can receive funding from other sources to pay for green renovations. The federal government, state governments, local municipalities and even utility companies offer several options.

For example, homeowners can still receive a federal tax credit for 30% of the cost of energy-efficient products (up to a total credit of $1,500). This includes the purchase of central air conditioning systems (both the product and installation), electric heat pumps, furnaces and boilers, and whole-house ventilation fans. Visit the US Department of Energy Energy Savers website for more information.

Another great resource is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency or “DSIRE” website. This allows you to view rebates, loan and grant programs, financing options and tax credits offered in your region.

Finally, new home buyers should consider an energy-efficient mortgage or energy improvement mortgage. These mortgages allow consumers to count savings from energy bills as additional income, ultimately giving them more buying power. Home Energy Magazine has a helpful article here.

This article was originally published by Software Advice at: Cash for Caulkers – The Definitive Guide To The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010

Now that the green movement is on in full force and we’ve all become conscious of how to make our homes more efficient, the change has started the race for big businesses who supply to our every demands.

Well, now the demands are for more home energy efficient products and suppliers are on the move. We’ve seen some sharp insulation products, some innovative new light bulbs and now we have a type of window that should be all the buzz.

If you do a home energy audit, you’re likely to realize that a large part of your leaks come from around your windows. According to the New York Times, 4% of all heating and cooling loss in the United States comes from windows. As you think about how huge that number really is, there is a solution on the way: low-e windows.

The ‘e’ doesn’t stand for energy, as you might guess; actually it stands for low emissivity.

Energy Department officials are highly encouraging these new windows for new homes. This includes retrofits, storm windows, patio doors and more.

Recently, the prices have come down on this product and overall, they are going to go through the same process as CFL light bulbs as they get integrated into popular production.

Energy efficiency gurus were quick to run out and get the CFL bulbs as soon as they were available but the common family had to understand the benefits. Let’s face it, low-e windows – just like CFL bulbs – cost more than regular ones and the savings aren’t evident right off the bat. It’s not as if you’re buying one brand versus another and saving 10% right away on the purchase price. With these windows, the savings will come over a long period of time – probably years – on your heating and cooling bills, but they will cost you more upfront.

It’s good that they are being encouraged by the department of energy and the prices should come down as the popularity grows. If you’re planning a home energy audit soon, these might be an option for you if you find your windows need to be replaced.

If you were thinking about getting a home energy audit so that you can be more energy efficient around the house and save some money, now might be the best time to do it.

As we all know, there is a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that is costing roughly between 1000 – 5000 barrels of oil per day. While the  major talk of the town is oil, natural gas is a by-product of oil and quite a bit of it is being injected into the the water right now. By the time everything is said and done, this could turn out to be one of the worst oil spills in history.

How do you think that will effect energy prices?

For the most part, the oil spill will affect the transportation community but natural gas is what we use to heat and cool homes, so if the costs go up, so do yours. If you’re living in an energy-leaky home, now might be the most financially shrewd time to make the investment into a home energy audit as your savings could be exponential.

As of today, the oil spill is still an unsolved mystery and the amount of loss is not just going to affect one economy; it will affect energy prices around the world. While we can solve the world’s problems from our home, we can at least be more energy-efficient around our house and contribute less to the overall national consumption, which saves you money and lessens our dependency. At the very least, it’s a step in the right direction.

Zero Energy Homes is one of the newest buzz terms in the green community – can you take a guess as to what it means?

While it may be fairly self-explanatory, can homes nowadays in the United States really require zero energy to run and therefore help curtail our dependence on oil and gas?

It may be tough to build a home that requires absolutely no energy consumption but this keen idea refers to the fact that the net energy use on the house would be zero, which means the house would also produces some energy – maybe through solar panels or wind turbines.

For this to work, the house would have to be extremely well-insulated and the house would have to be built to be virtually airtight. Or if the house is already constructed, a home energy audit could also help find the areas that are leaking and that need to be improved.

While it may be tough to make a zero energy home that is net zero – meaning it produces some energy to balance the usage – there is also a concept of low-energy homes, which are homes that simply use much less energy than a conventional home would. The catch phrase for these is called “near zero” homes.

It’s a great idea that many new home builders can be conscious of nowadays but there are a couple of problems for the regular family that’s thinking green in this economy. For starters, most people don’t build new homes for themselves and many move into older homes. Secondly, the people who do opt to build have to factor that zero energy homes are more expensive – in some cases, significantly more expensive -  and some people just don’t have the extra money.

Overall, this is a great idea for the long term and it is slowly being employed. But for now, many others can get a home energy audit to bring their home energy usage closer to zero – or at least minimize it.

If you’ve been looking at a home energy audit as a way to potentially save some money around the house, you’ve likely also done some research into which types of products can help you be more energy-efficient around the house.

The brand name that frequently comes up is Energy Star as their products are time and time again the recommended ones of choice.Ever wondered why?

For starters, Energy Star is a joint program of the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, which are two teams that guide us on how to save money and protect the environment by cutting down on energy costs and practices around the house.

But before you jump to the conclusion that Energy Star is just the government brand, that is not in fully the case. They are government-backed, but this label was is in fact established to cut down on green house gases and many other pollutants, and also to catch the consumers eye when you’re in the aisle and looking for a trusted source.

For a product to earn the Energy Star label, it actually has to cut down on energy use significantly in comparison to many other same products. At the same time, it has to deliver the same performance that consumers require if they were to buy any other brand.

For example, if you’re buying a light bulb, the energy efficient one not only has to consume less when it’s working but has to produce the same amount of light, durability, etc. for it to earn the label.

Furthermore, these energy-efficient products, which tend to cost more to make and then often times, more to buy, they have to save the consumer enough money to justify the purchase (and extra cost).

Overall, this isn’t just another food product with a picture of a farmer on it to get the consumer to think the food is organic. This is in fact a tried and tested product line that has the goal of saving on energy costs around the house and helping curtail consumption nationwide.

It’s been a trying time for many contractors across America as the recession has put a number of them on the sidelines. While real estate foreclosures reached new highs across the country, renovations, energy efficiency and home improvements were the last thing on anyone’s mind.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act (also known as Cash For Caulkers) is up for debate in the senate and to show support for it – or more specifically, help show how important it is to pass – over 100 contractors headed to Washington D.C. on Thursday to lobby for it.

Cash For Caulkers is expected to provide an estimated $7 billion in home rebates over a span of two years for those who decide to renovate their properties with more energy efficient products. As we all know, sales – or rebates in this case – always get the customer’s attention and if home owners are encouraged to renovate, it will put a lot of hurting contractors and construction workers back into business.

Right now, one of the hottest topics among American politics is job creation and one of the reasons that this bill has made it to the senate is that it is expected to put a lot of people back to work. Although the numbers are rough estimates, about 20%-25% of all building construction or home improvement contractors were unemployed during the toughest parts of the recession.

If the bill is pushed through and energy savings are put on the table for home owners, expect a lot of them to start shopping around, getting home energy audits and making improvements to their living space.

Every now and then we learn something from the British. Whether it’s theater, soccer tricks or even the term ‘bloke’ – if you use it – we like to share their ideas. Their on to a good one with home energy efficiency that hopefully is shared worldwide.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change announced that they are going to introduce smart metering in the next decade. As per the energy efficiency guidelines, all households will have to have smart meters by the year 2020.

In general, the concept of these smart meters is to not only increase energy savings but overall, the idea is that the consumer becomes aware of just how much energy they do use and become conscious of the areas where they can save.

The smart meters plan is part of a roll out to introduce a new, smart grid that will drastically change how energy is not only consumed but also how it is produced, bought and sold.

In simpler terms, the grid will be a network that uses information technology to manage the supply and demand of electricity efficiently, which means consumers and producers can adjust on the fly.

The idea of smart meters is fantastic and it is really building upon the concept of getting a home energy audit. A home energy audit creates awareness of where you can conserve and where can improve your home, and the meters continue that awareness as they allow you to be conscious of your usage from day-to-day on the fly.

Don’t be surprised if this idea is “shared” by other countries worldwide as the technology improves.

It’s getting close to that time where you need to find your local home energy auditor. Have you heard about the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act? In simpler terms, it’s called Cash For Caulkers.

It follows the lines of it’s predecessor, Cash For Clunkers, which was a successful bill in 2009 that allowed owners of gas-guzzling vehicles to trade them in for a discount off of their new car.

Cash for caulkers also has the environment in mind, along with conversation (of financial and energetic resources) and creation of jobs.

It’s expected that Cash for Caulkers creates roughly 170,000 jobs over the next couple of years, which is desperately needed in the construction industry. But in general, the idea is to save home-owners on their energy costs – to the tune of $10 billion over the next decade – and decreased consumption of their precious fossil fuels.

The idea for home owners is that they can install a number of different products ranging from insulation, duct sealing and energy-efficient windows and they’ll in turn get rebates to encourage them to do so (up to $1500 per project).

What that means is that if this bill passes, it will be a great time to be more energy conscious in the house. If you’ve been shopping for new windows, go for the energy-efficient ones because you can earn a rebate now and they’ll save you money on your monthly energy bills in the long run.

Currently, the bill is in the Senate after Congress the House approved the measure with a 246-161 vote. The Home Energy Team blog will keep you posted but in the meantime, schedule a home energy audit to find out what needs to be improved at your place so that you can start saving when it passes.

You’ve finally made the right decision, you want to have a home energy audit of your home done. Your goal is to save on energy costs, to consume less energy and to ensure your home is performing as energy-efficient as possible. Now what do you do? Where do you turn? How do you go about having a home energy assessment of your home? Fortunately, the Home Energy Team (HET) is here to help.

In existence entirely to help America become more energy-efficient, one home energy audit at a time, HET not only offers you services such as the one that can land you a home energy auditor, but we have other resources on the site to help you and your family save on energy costs and to learn about energy-saving products.

Using the HET Find My Local Energy Auditor service, you can select your state of residence, the city and zip code, and simply fill in your information. It’s that simple. Then, a certified home energy audit professional will get in touch with you. You can also be more proactive and click on the Schedule an Energy Audit link to help with the process.

In the meantime, as you wait for your auditor to come to your home, check out the HET energy-saving product information. There are a ton of Energy Star approved products that can help save on your energy bills.

We are a reliable and crucial resource for homeowners looking to save energy and help save the planet. Why not take advantage and use the resources for yourself?

Want ways to save on energy costs around the house? Check this video out: