Home Energy Efficiency in Raleigh

Making Your Home Comfortable and Efficient

It's good to know a thing or two about Raleigh's climate and energy usage before upgrading your own home's efficiency.

• North Carolina residents are among the top electricity consumers in the nation, and pay around one cent less per kilowatt-hour than the national average for their electricity from utilities like Progress Energy.
• On the other hand, natural gas providers, like PSNC Energy, charge around $11.50 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas — a dollar more than the national average.
• Raleigh receives approximately 5 kWh per meter squared of solar radiation daily, and the average annual wind speed is 7.1 mph.
• The average North Carolina home was built 30 years ago. Many older homes are in need of additional insulation and air sealing. ENERGY STAR recommends adding R38 rated insulation to attics with only a few inches of insulation.

Home Energy Audits in Raleigh

Energy audits are the first step to understanding how energy efficient (or not) your home is. Professional auditors are trained to test your home and appliances to figure out how to improve the quality and comfort of your home to ultimately lower the your utility bills. Audits typically cost a few hundred dollars but can pay for themselves in a year when combined with energy retrofits.

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 Raleigh

Here are some examples of upgrades your auditor may suggest.

• ENERGY STAR Appliances: If North Carolina residents are among the top electricity consumers, there is a lot of room for improvement, and one place to start is with appliances. By purchasing an ENERGY STAR rated refrigerator, clothes washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc., you'll cut back your electricity consumption.
• Tankless Water Heater: Rather than keeping a lot of water heated day and night, a tankless water heater allows you to heat water as you need it. This saves energy and money because traditional water heaters account for around 12 percent of your energy budget.
• Insulation and Air Sealing: When installed together, these measures can make a big difference on your heating and cooling bills because it helps keep expensive heated and cooled air inside your home, which means your HVAC system doesn't have to run as often or as hard.
• Energy-Efficient Windows: Windows are a big investment, but if you need to replace them or you're doing a remodel, your best option is to buy ENERGY STAR windows with a low U-factor and low-SHGC. These ratings determine how well your windows perform in keeping heat from transferring through the glass.
• Solar Panels: If your utility bills and energy consumption is already very low, you may want to install solar panels. If the system is large enough, you'll be able to power your entire home using the sun's energy.

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

Energy Rebates and Tax Credits in Raleigh

Home Efficiency Upgrades: Progress Energy Carolinas offers rebates on heating and cooling equipment, furnaces, insulation, window upgrades and heating and cooling repairs. The federal government also offers a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost of new windows, doors, roofing, insulation and more for up to $1,500. North Carolina is also offering a limited time ENERGY STAR appliance rebate program on appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers and more. The first phase of that program will be offered in April, and the second will be offered in June.

Renewable Energy Systems: Progress Energy Carolinas offers a $1,000 rebate for installing a solar water heater. North Carolina also provides several incentives for installing renewable energy systems including property tax exemptions and exclusions and a buyback program paying $0.19 per kWh of electricity. The federal government also offers to cover up to 30 percent of the system's cost through the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit.

Check out all energy rebates and tax credits in Raleigh.

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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