Energy efficiency upgrades for your home
Posted at: 07/19/2012 8:03 PM
| Updated at: 07/19/2012 9:11 PM
By: Whitney Jones
A lot of people who want to save on energy bills will look to revamping their homes and making them more energy efficient.
And many builders are already including high energy efficiency standards into new homes.
KOB Eyewitness News 4 asked it was worth it to overhaul an existing home.
Local builder Ray-Lee homes is jumping on board building homes to higher environmental standards in communities like Mesa Del Sol.
"This is very, very normal now and we've actually risen our building envelopes across town to get as energy efficient as possible," Ray-Lee Homes owner Jeff Grady said.
Build Green New Mexico has different levels of efficiency in new homes: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald - with emerald being the most efficient.
But what about existing homes? Can they be easily upgraded?
Builders will tell you it's not just about having energy efficient appliances - it's about how well the house is sealed through: the windows, the insulation in the walls, the ceiling and also the doors.
Once your home is properly sealed in, then you can start investing in appliances like tank-less water heater witch uses less energy.
But sealing in an existing home is no small project according to energy rating specialist Richard Acosta -- especially if you want to meet the optional new standards.
"You basically have to reinstall a new furnace, reinstall a new water heater, tear out your walls and put in new insulation and new windows - so the cost could be in the tens of thousands of dollars," Acosta said.
So, if you do want to make your home more efficient and save on bills, but don't want to build a new home to do it - Grady had some advice.
"A good place to start would be the windows. Replace your windows and stop there," said Grady.
>Learn more about Build Green New Mexico standards.
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