The Decatur Minute

My name is Lena Stevens, and I am the Resource Conservation Coordinator for the City of Decatur.  My job is to help foster sustainability, both within our organization, and for the community as a whole.  I also recently became a first time homeowner in the City of Decatur, and I quickly realized that creating an energy-efficient home is more art than science, and I was going to need some outside help.

Home energy audits are a great way to get professional advice on how your particular home, with all its unique characteristics, can be retrofitted to reduce your utility bills.  This service is being offered by more providers every day, and the prices have become competitive.  Walking through your home or business, with an auditor gives you a completely different perspective, and you might be surprised what you learn.

My friend and colleague, Mike Barcik from Southface offered to come over to my house and give me an informal audit today, and I wanted to share some of his advice with you.  Southface is a non-profit organization based in Atlanta.  They have worked to promote energy, water, and resource efficient homes and businesses for over 30 years, and offer a wide range of services to both the public and private sector.  Mike also happens to be a Decatur resident himself, and is in one word… awesome!

Please note that this information is not meant to promote any particular strategy, product, or vendor, but rather to give you an idea of what an energy audit is like.  What works in my home, or what I’m willing to try, might not be right for you.  Southface does not offer residential audits, however there are several companies in Decatur and in the Atlanta area that offer this service, and can provide recommendations specific to your home.

Mike Barcik from Southface checking out my air conditioner

Mike started by checking out my air conditioning unit.  It is pretty old, but still works great.  He suggested that when I replace it, I look at variable speed unit, which is more energy-efficient. He also suggested that I insulate the refrigerant line.  Luckily I have a high-efficiency gas furnace, which converts 90% of the fuel source into heat.  Traditional furnaces range from 56%-70% efficiency, while high-efficiency systems range from 90% to 97%.  Switching from a 70% to a 90% efficient furnace can save you over 20% on your heating bill, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy.

My living room vent

Next we went inside to take a look at my vents.  Fun stuff huh?  The metal piece that sits down in the vent is called the “boot.”  Mike said that I should seal around the boot on the top to prevent leakage using caulk or another indoor sealant.  He also suggested that I smear mastic, a water proof paste, along the seal between the boot and the duct.

My sad attic insulation

Then we were on to the attic to see my pitiful loose fill insulation, which had been smushed down by the previous owner’s kitty cats.  Mike said that this type of insulation needs to be piled up about 6-8 inches higher than the floor joists, which can been seen in this picture.  There is no need to remove the old insulation.  Simply buy new bags of it from a home improvement store, and rent the machine to blow it in.  First things first, however, I’m going to add a radiant barrier to the underside of my roof.  These barriers consist of a highly reflective material that reflects radiant heat rather than absorbing it.

My "pit basement" is partially dug out, but mostly only crawlspace.

Last, but certainly not least, was a trip to my basement.  I have been told this is called a “pit” basement, where a portion is dug out, but most of it remains crawlspace.  This particular recommendation may be considered by some to be controversial, but has been gathering strength in the sustainability community.  Mike suggested that I seal up and insulate the entire crawlspace, so that it becomes included in the building envelope.  Traditionally, crawlspaces have been vented, however sealing them has two main benefits: (1) ventilation in the winter makes it difficult to keep crawlspaces warm and (2) warm, moist summer air is usually unable to dehumidify a space and can actually contribute to moisture issues.  Read more about the subject at the U.S. Dept of Energy website.

The project for my home would go something like this:

STEP 1: Cover 100% of the dirt with plastic, and seal it to the foundation wall
STEP2: Retrofit the water heater and furnace to create outdoor intake lines for combustion air
STEP3: Close and seal all foundation vents
STEP4: Add a dehumidifier to the basement
STEP5: Add insulation to the foundation wall

I plan to start some of these projects and continue researching over the next year or so, as I have the time and money available.  I may also obtain a more formal audit.  Sustainability is not something that happens all at once, rather, I think it’s something you just get a little bit better at with each new project.  Mike has been working on his home for over 10 years, and is still learning.

If you are interested in getting an energy audit for your home,  a good resource is Georgia Power’s Home Performance with Energy Star program.  They have a list of prequalified auditors and contractors, and will rebate 50% of the assessment charge up to $200.  Some providers are offering audits for as little as $100.  They also have up to $1900 in rebates available for things such as attic and wall insulation, thermostat conversions, and duct sealing.  Also stay tuned for new programs coming from the City of Decatur to offer financial incentives for home energy retrofits.

A big thank you goes out to Mike Barcik for his help.  If you have any questions about this or any other sustainability related issues in the City of Decatur, feel free to contact me.  Thanks for reading.

Lena Stevens
Resource Conservation Coordinator
City of Decatur
678-553-6577
lena.stevens@decaturga.com