Home Energy Efficiency in Columbus

Making Your Home Comfortable and Efficient

When it comes to thinking about how to make your home more energy efficient, here are some facts to take in.

• During the month of December 2009, natural gas prices east of the Mississippi river increased from as little as $0.30 to as much as $5.57 per million BTU in a one week period. Gas companies such as Dominion East directly pass on these increases in costs to consumers, which makes efficient use of natural gas a wise choice.
• Meanwhile, nine-tenths of electricity comes from coal with prices averaging around $0.10 per kilowatt-hour, which is about equal to the national average.
• The median Ohio home was built in 1964! This means there is a lot of room for energy efficiency improvements in Ohioan homes, especially in the areas of insulation and air sealing.
• The average wind speed in Columbus annually is 8.3 mph, which makes wind a viable option for renewable energy.

Home Energy Audits in Columbus

An energy audit is a great idea if you aren't really sure how efficient — or not — your home is. It will also give you a prioritized "to do" list of measures you can take to make your home more efficient and your utility bills more affordable, with the most cost effective measures at the top. An in-home energy audit typically costs a few hundred dollars, but in many cases, it'll identify easy problems to fix that'll result in at least a few hundred dollars of savings in the short-term, paying for itself!

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 Columbus

There are many ways for the people of Columbus to combat cold temperatures and fluctuating seasonal rate increases. Here are a few examples of upgrades your auditor may suggest:

• ENERGY STAR Appliances: Some of the biggest energy wasting appliances in a home are outdated refrigerators, dryers, dishwashers and water heaters. By replacing these with ENERGY STAR models, you can save a lot of money on your utility bills, which will help save you money for years to come.
• Energy-Efficient Windows: Energy-efficient windows are one way to increase comfort and save money. Replacing old, single-pane windows with energy-efficient windows alone can garner an Ohio homeowner up to a 39 percent savings on a yearly energy bill. Besides saving on the energy bill, energy-efficient windows increase comfort by reducing drafts, raising interior glass temperatures and lowering U-factors.
• High-Efficiency Furnaces: Another way to reduce energy costs during the winter is with a high-efficiency furnace. Replacing a run of the mill 65 percent efficient gas furnace with 90 percent or greater efficient furnace can save a household with an annual fuel cost of $1,300 a whopping $351. That is a savings of 27 percent in one year.
• Attic Insulation: Adding insulation is a quick way to increase the efficiency and comfort during a cold Columbus winter is to add or upgrade attic insulation. Blown or batt insulation should be installed by a professional to ensure quality and efficiency. If a house already has a few inches of attic insulation, Columbus resident should add R38-R49 rated insulation. Heat loss through the roof of a house can be greatly reduced, which will increase comfort on all levels of the home.

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

Energy Rebates and Tax Credits in Columbus

Home Efficiency Upgrades: A homeowner does not have to shoulder the cost of making his or her home more energy efficient alone. There are many rebates and tax credits available for Columbus residents to help in the transition to a greener home. Columbia Gas of Ohio offers a rebate of $25 for simply replacing a standard thermostat with an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat. For more time-consuming home upgrades such as air sealing, insulation and heating system upgrades, homeowners can take advantage of rebates covering up to 70 percent of the cost.

For those looking to finance energy-efficient upgrades, Energy Conservation for Ohioans Eco-Link program offers a 3 percent rate reduction on loans up to $25,000. Tax credits of up to $1,500 dollars are available for installing energy-efficient windows. Whether watching the Buckeyes fight for gridiron glory in person or from the comfort of the living room sofa, having a comfortable and energy-efficient house during a cold Columbus winter day is something all Ohioans can appreciate.

Renewable Energy Systems: If your home is in great shape when it comes to energy efficiency, the next step may be renewable energy. Green Energy Ohio offers up to $2,400 for solar water heaters. Also, through Ohio's Energy Office, there are incentive programs to support solar panels, solar water heaters and wind energy systems. Additionally, the federal government will cover up to 30 percent of the cost of solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable energy systems through the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit.

Check out all energy rebates and tax credits in Columbus.

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: May 2010

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