Home Energy Efficiency in Charlotte

Making Your Home Comfortable and Efficient

Here are some facts about the Charlotte area that will help you make your home more energy efficient.

• July highs in Charlotte reach into the 90's while average January lows drop to freezing. Extreme temperatures like these make insulation and air sealing important for keeping your heating and cooling bills affordable.
• The majority of homes in North Carolina were built before 1980. Typically homes are ready for an energy audit once they're around 5-10 years old because insulated and air sealed areas start to wear down and technology has advanced in terms of appliance efficiency.
• Although North Carolina residents use a lot of electricity, the cost of electricity is near average for the nation at around $0.09 per kilowatt-hour from utilities like Duke Energy.
• Natural gas is also average compared to the rest of the nation with Charlotte residents paying around $11.56 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas from utilities like PSNC.
• Everyday, Charlotte receives around 4.5 meters squared of solar radiation, which makes solar panels and solar water heaters a viable option.

Home Energy Audits in Charlotte

An energy audit is a great way to get an idea of what's going on in your home in terms of energy efficiency and what upgrades would have the biggest impact on your energy bills. Audits in the Charlotte area typically cost a few hundred dollars, but they can easily help save you that much on your utilities in less than a year.

If you'd like to find out — for free and within minutes — whether your home is a good candidate for an energy audit and for upgrades, take our online home energy report. We'll give you a home energy score and estimate your savings potential.

Home Energy Upgrades in Charlotte

Here are some upgrades that may work well in a climate like Charlotte's.

• Geothermal Heat Pump: By extracting "free heat" from the earth and then pumping it into your home, you can save a load on your heating bills. In the summertime, your system will reverse to extract heat out of your home and pump it outside.
• Insulation: Insulation will help to keep heat from seeping into your living space in the summer and out in the winter. By trapping in the air you've paid to bring to a comfortable temperature, your HVAC system won't have to work as hard and will therefore use less energy.
• Daylighting: Using the sun's natural light to brighten your home can actually save you a lot of money on your electricity bills. Certain modern design techniques using skylights and proper window alignment can reduce lighting costs by as much as 40 percent.
• ENERGY STAR Appliances: Replacing outdated, heavy energy users such as refrigerators, clothes washers, dryers and dishwashers with modern, efficient models will help you cut your energy costs even further.
• Solar Hot Water Heater: If you use the sun to preheat the water you use to cook, bathe and wash your clothes with, you can significantly reduce your hot water heating costs, which typically account for around 12 percent of your home's overall energy use.
• Solar Panels: If you feel like you're ready to become more energy independent and generate power for your own home, you may be ready for solar panels, which can save you money for years to come, especially because energy prices have been consistently rising for the past thirty years.

Have a project in mind? Contact an energy expert to get started.

Energy Rebates and Tax Credits in Charlotte

Home Efficiency Upgrades: There are several utility, state wide and federal incentives available to homeowners who make energy efficiency upgrades in their homes. Union Power Cooperative, Piedmont Natural Gas, PSNC and Duke Energy offer a variety of rebates including rebates on heat pumps, furnaces, air conditioners, tankless water heaters and efficient tank water heaters. The federal government also offers a tax credit equal to 30 percent up to $1,500 for energy-efficient appliances, HVAC equipment, windows, doors, roofs and more.

Renewable Energy Systems: Solar Panels in the North Carolina area may be eligible for a property tax abatement and a property tax exclusions. North Carolina also offers an income tax credit equal for solar panels, solar thermal, wind, biomass and hydroelectric energy systems. The federal government offers an income tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost of some renewable energy systems including solar, geothermal and wind. Additionally, NC GreenPower offers a buyback program for renewable energy systems at up to $0.19/kWh.

Check out all energy rebates and tax credits in Charlotte.

Home Energy Resources from EnergySavvy

1. Home Energy Report: How efficient is your home? Find out how to improve your home's efficiency and comfort, without spending tons of money, with EnergySavvy's free online home energy report.
2. Energy Rebate and Tax Credit Directory: EnergySavvy's guide to energy rebates and tax credits can help you find all the energy tax credits and rebates that are available locally for you.
3. Energy Contractors: If you've got a project in mind to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable and you'd like to talk with an energy expert about it, we can help. We focus on the relatively small group of contractors nationwide who really understand home energy auditing and energy retrofits.
4. Educational Content: Home energy efficiency is complicated stuff. It's not just as simple as laying some insulation in the attic. We've put together a library of easy-to-read topics that cover the basics of energy efficiency. And if you have a question about anything, you can ask one of our energy experts using our "Ask an Expert" feature.

Last Updated: June 2010

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