Non-Energy Benefits
of Energy Efficiency

The following will give you information about the benefits of energy efficiency improvements beyond the direct energy bill savings.

Basement Wall Insulation

Well-insulated basement walls can yield many sorts of benefits in addition to energy cost savings. For example, well-insulated basement walls can:

  • improve comfort. Basement wall insulation can make your home more comfortable by buffering your home against high outside temperatures in summer and cold temperatures in winter. Proper insulation will help minimize uncomfortable drafts. Additionally, the surface temperature of your walls will stay closer to the desired room temperature (so the walls are warmer to the touch in winter, for example).
  • Make your home quieter. A well-insulated building envelope can make your home quieter by blocking outdoor noise sources.
  • reduce moisture-related problems. Moisture can be introduced into basement walls by outside weather conditions (humidity or precipitation) as well as indoor sources of moisture (people, showers, cooking, etc.) If the moisture meets cold surfaces along the way it can condense and invite mold growth or moisture damage problems. Proper insulation reduces moisture-related problems.
  • lower the risk of frozen water pipes. Water pipes running inside poorly insulated walls can be exposed to freeze damage; proper insulation will lower the risk. Hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance claims are filed each year for frozen water pipe damages. In relatively mild regions that experience occasional strong freezes, people often don't anticipate the problem and fail to take preventive measures ahead of time.

Central Air Conditioners

Efficient entral air conditioners (CACs) may operate more quietly than standard (minimum efficiency) CACs. Most CACs that qualify for the ENERGY STAR label come with "sound blankets" on the compressor to make the outdoor condensing unit quieter.

Efficient ACs may be more visually attractive than minimum efficiency units. Manufacturers of high-efficiency CACs tend to put more effort into making the outdoor condensing unit look more attractive (e.g., better cabinet shape and better corner posts and grills).

Some efficient CACs may have better control systems that improve the humidity and/or temperature control.

Some efficient CACs are easier to maintain than minimum efficiency units. Some high-efficiency units have ports on the refrigerant tubing coming in and out of the compressor, which make it easier to check the refrigerant charge.

Make sure you buy a CAC that is properly sized for your home. Proper sizing helps to reduce humidity and therefore control mold and mildew, and also reduces energy consumption.

Ceiling Insulation

A well-insulated ceiling can yield many sorts of benefits in addition to energy cost savings. For example, a well-insulated ceiling can:

  • Make your home more comfortable. A well-insulated ceiling buffers your home against high outside temperatures in summer and cold temperatures in winter, making your home more comfortable. Well-insulated construction also helps minimize uncomfortable drafts.
  • Make your home quieter. A well-insulated building "envelope" can make your home quieter by blocking outdoor noise sources.
  • reduce moisture-related problems. Moisture can be introduced into ceiling cavities by outside weather conditions (humidity or precipitation) as well as indoor sources of moisture (people, showers, cooking, etc.) If the moisture meets cold surfaces along the way it can condense and invite mold growth or moisture damage problems.
  • improve fire safety. Well-insulated building envelopes can improve fire safety by reducing air leakage that could otherwise nourish a fire. And, uneven (or missing) insulation can provide channels through which fires can spread. The use of approved products and installation practices (e.g. electrical safety measures) must be observed to guard against insulation-related fires.
  • remain comfortable longer during power outages. Proper insulation reduces heat loss through the building envelope, allowing your home to remain comfortable and habitable longer during power outages.
  • lower the risk of frozen water pipes. Water pipes in uninsulated ceiling areas can be exposed to freeze damage; proper insulation will lower the risk. Hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance claims are filed each year for frozen water pipe damages. In relatively mild regions that experience occasional strong freezes, people often don't anticipate the problem and fail to take preventive measures ahead of time.
  • reduce the likelihood of ice forming in attics or "ice dams" on top of the roof. Ice dams are caused by the melting of rooftop snow over the warm roof, and re-freezing at the cold eave. Water pools behind the eave and can run under the roofing. Ice dams are a common cause of roof damages and also dangerous conditions for pedestrians around the home.

Crawlspace Wall Insulation

Well-insulated crawlspace walls can yield many sorts of benefits in addition to energy cost savings. For example, well-insulated crawlspace walls can:

  • improve comfort. Crawlspace wall insulation can make your home more comfortable by buffering your home against high outside temperatures in summer and cold temperatures in winter. Proper insulation will help minimize uncomfortable drafts.
  • Make your home quieter. A well-insulated building envelope can make your home quieter by blocking outdoor noise sources.
  • reduce moisture-related problems. Moisture can be introduced into uninsulated, leaky or poorly-installed crawlspace wall insulation by outside weather conditions (humidity or precipitation) as well as indoor sources of moisture (people, showers, cooking, etc.) If the moisture meets cold surfaces along the way it can condense and invite mold growth or moisture damage problems. Proper insulation reduces moisture-related problems.
  • lower the risk of frozen water pipes. Water pipes running inside uninsulated or poorly insulated crawlspaces can be exposed to freeze damage; proper insulation will lower the risk. Hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance claims are filed each year for frozen water pipe damages. In relatively mild regions that experience occasional strong freezes, people often don't anticipate the problem and fail to take preventive

Clotheswashers

Some efficient horizontal axis clothes washers use up to 50% less water.

Some efficient clothes washers spin the clothes faster, leaving them drier, which in turn decreases the amount of time in the dryer and the energy consumed by the clothes dryer.

Some efficient horizontal-axis washers cause less wear and tear on the clothes, and some are easier to fit bulky items (such as blankets) into. Front-loading tumble-action washers may actually get clothes cleaner, according to independent studies.

Well-insulated Ducts

Insulating ducts located in your attic reduces the leakage of heat into the attic. Heat leaks can cause rooftop snow to melt, resulting in dangerous ice dams. Ice dams are a common cause of roof damage and also dangerous conditions from melting ice for pedestrians around the home.

Duct Sealing

Having your ducts professionally sealed to reduce leakage can help avoid a number of problems, in addition to cutting back on your energy bills. Well-sealed ducts can:

  • Well-sealed ducts have been shown to improve the flow and temperature of the air delivered to rooms, improving the comfort of even those rooms that were previously uncomfortable during certain times of the year.
  • Reduce moisture damage or mold in the spaces surrounding the ducts (such as the walls, floor, or attic). For ducts located in the attic, moisture and heat leaks through the ducts can result in condensation on the attic walls or ceiling, or in the winter can cause rooftop snow to melt and form dangerous ice dams. Ice dams are a common cause of roof damage and also create dangerous conditions for pedestrians around the home.
  • Reduce phenomena such as door slamming. Leaky supply ducts can cause a situation called "depressurization", in which the house experiences a kind of suction effect because the amount of air being exhausted from the home is greater than the amount being supplied. One symptom of depressurization is doors that mysteriously slam.
  • Reduce fire risk. Depressurization in rooms containing combustion appliances (such as water heaters or furnaces) can cause the burner flames from those appliances to come into contact with flammable parts of your home. This phenomenon is called "flame roll-out" and is a known cause of house fires. Homes will well-sealed ducts are less prone to flame roll-out.
  • Help avoid indoor air pollution problems. Depressurization in rooms containing combustion appliances can also cause dangerous combustion products (fumes), such as carbon monoxide, to be pulled into the home. Depressurization can also increase the rate of radon entry into a home, particularly in basements.
  • Help reduce odors, dust and mold in the air circulating through your ducts. Leaky return ducts can cause basement or garage odors, crawlspace dust or mold, or attic insulation fibers to be sucked into your duct system and then delivered into your rooms. Not only is this detrimental to your health, but these particles can also degrade the performance of your air conditioner by clogging up the cooling coil.

Dishwashers

Some efficient dishwashers reduce water use and/or have shorter run times.

Electric Water Heaters

Some efficient electric water heaters are better insulated and will cool off more slowly if the heating elements are unable to operate (e.g., during a power interruption).

Floor Insulation

A well-insulated floor can yield many sorts of benefits in addition to energy cost savings. For example, a well-insulated floor can:

  • improve comfort. Floor insulation can make your home more comfortable by buffering your home against high outside temperatures in summer and cold temperatures in winter. Well-insulated floors will help minimize uncomfortable drafts. Additionally, the surface temperature of your floor will stay closer to the desired room temperature (so the floor is warmer to the touch in winter, for example).
  • reduce moisture-related problems. Moisture can be introduced into floor cavities by outside weather conditions (humidity or precipitation) as well as indoor sources of moisture (people, showers, cooking, etc.) If the moisture meets cold surfaces along the way it can condense and invite mold growth or moisture damage problems.
  • improve fire safety. Well-insulated building envelopes can improve fire safety by reducing air leakage that could otherwise nourish a fire. And, uneven (or missing) insulation can provide channels through which fires can spread. The use of approved products and installation practices (e.g. electrical safety measures) must be observed to guard against insulation-related fires.
  • remain comfortable longer during power outages. Proper insulation reduces heat loss through the building envelope, allowing your home to remain comfortable and habitable longer during power outages.
  • lower the risk of frozen water pipes. Water pipes in uninsulated basements or crawlspaces can be exposed to freeze damage; proper insulation will lower the risk. Hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance claims are filed each year for frozen water pipe damages. In relatively mild regions that experience occasional strong freezes, people often don't anticipate the problem and fail to take preventive measures ahead of time.
  • Make your home quieter. A well-insulated building envelope can make your home quieter by blocking outdoor noise sources.

Gas Furnaces

Efficient gas-fired furnaces may provide the following benefits in addition to reducing your energy bills.

  • Improved Comfort. Efficient furnaces provide greater comfort because they cycle on and off less often, and have improved controls so as to provide more precise comfort control throughout the home.
  • Improved Indoor Air Quality. Some efficient furnaces (e.g. sealed combustion units) contain and exhaust all the "combustion products" with no chance of their being introduced into the home.
  • Improved Fire Safety. Efficient furnaces don't need to operate for as many hours to provide the required heat. This means that time when flames are present is reduced, which has been noted by some insurance companies as a benefit in terms of improved fire safety.

You can obtain additional benefits by having your contractor install the correct size (capacity) of furnace for your home. A properly sized furnace can reduce noise (because of its reduced airflow), increase comfort (because the longer run times provide a more consistent furnace output rate), improve combustion safety (because of decreased potential for depressurization), and also reduce energy consumption.

Gas Water Heater

Many efficient water heaters are better insulated and will cool off more slowly if the heating elements are unable to operate. (Since they rely on electronic ignitions, even gas-fired water heaters are vulnerable to power interruptions.)

One type of efficient water heater (the so-called "sealed combustion" style) reduces the chance of "backdrafting", in which dangerous pollutants can inadvertently spill back into the home rather than being exhausted to the outdoors.

Heat Pumps

Efficient heat pumps may operate more quietly than standard (minimum efficiency) heat pumps. Most heat pumps that qualify for the ENERGY STAR label come with "sound blankets" on the compressor to make the outdoor condensing unit quieter.

Efficient heat pumps may be more visually attractive than minimum efficiency heat pumps. Manufacturers of high-efficiency heat pumps tend to put more effort into making the outdoor condensing unit look more attractive (e.g., better cabinet shape and better corner posts and grills).

Some efficient heat pumps may have better control systems that improve the humidity and/or temperature control.

Some efficient heat pumps are easier to maintain than minimum efficiency units. Some high-efficiency heat pumps have ports on the refrigerant tubing coming in and out of the compressor, which make it easier to check the refrigerant charge.

You can obtain additional benefits by having your contractor install the correct size (capacity) of heat pump for your home. Proper sizing helps to reduce humidity and therefore control mold and mildew, and also reduces energy consumption.

Replacing Your Electric Furnace and CAC with a Heat Pump

Heat pumps combine the functions of heating and cooling. As a result, there is no need to purchase and install separate units. This can save on the space required.

ENERGY STAR heat pumps may operate more quietly than standard (minimum efficiency) heat pumps. Most heat pumps that qualify for the ENERGY STAR label come with "sound blankets" on the compressor to make the outdoor condensing unit quieter.

Some efficient heat pumps may have better control systems that improve the humidity and/or temperature control.

Some efficient heat pumps are easier to maintain than minimum efficiency units. Some high-efficiency heat pumps have ports on the refrigerant tubing coming in and out of the compressor, which make it easier to check the refrigerant charge.

You can obtain additional benefits by having your contractor install the correct size (capacity) of heat pump for your home. Proper sizing helps to reduce humidity and therefore control mold and mildew, and also reduces energy consumption.

Sealing Home Air Leaks

A properly -sealed and -ventilated home can:

  • improve comfort. Leaky homes are uncomfortable, both in winter and summer.
  • reduce drafts and moisture problems. Sealing leaks reduces infiltration into your home, which helps to reduce drafts and the frequently associated moisture problems.
  • reduce annoying phenomena such as mysterious door slamming. Well-sealed homes also can avoid "pressure imbalances", which are created when more air is being exhausted than resupplied, or vice versa. These imbalances cause annoying phenomena such as mysterious door slamming.
  • improve indoor air quality and fire safety. Pressure imbalances can lead to more serious situations in which furnace or combustion appliance exhausts are not removed fully from the home, or in which combustion flames are pulled down and out of their safe containment areas, potentially leading to house fires. Pressure imbalances can also increase the rate of radon entry into a home, particularly in basements.
  • Keep your home comfortable and habitable longer during power outages. A well sealed home can remain comfortable and habitable longer than the ordinary home during power outages.
  • Help prevent damages caused by frozen water pipes by reducing the infiltration of cold air into the house.
  • Reduce your heating and/or cooling needs so that you may be able to get by with smaller, less expensive, heating or cooling equipment.

LPG Furnaces

Efficient LPG-fired furnaces may provide the following benefits in addition to reducing your energy bills.

  • Improved Comfort. Efficient furnaces provide greater comfort because they cycle on and off less often, and have improved controls so as to provide more precise comfort control throughout the home.
  • Improved Indoor Air Quality. Some efficient furnaces (e.g. sealed combustion units) contain and exhaust all the "combustion products" with no chance of their being introduced into the home.
  • Improved Fire Safety. Efficient furnaces don't need to operate for as many hours to provide the required heat. This means that the amount of time when flames are present is reduced, which has been noted by some insurance companies as a benefit in terms of improved fire safety.

You can obtain additional benefits by having your contractor install the correct size (capacity) of furnace for your home. A properly sized furnace can reduce noise (because of its reduced airflow), increase comfort (because the longer run times provide a more consistent furnace output rate), improve combustion safety (because of decreased potential for depressurization), and also reduce energy consumption.

Efficient LPG-fired Water Heaters

Many efficient water heaters are better insulated and will cool off more slowly if the heating elements are unable to operate. (Since they rely on electronic ignitions, even gas-fired water heaters are vulnerable to power interruptions.)

One type of efficient water heater (the so-called "sealed combustion" style) reduces the chance of "backdrafting", in which dangerous pollutants can inadvertently spill back into the home rather than being exhausted to the outdoors.

Oil Furnaces

Efficient Oil-fired furnaces may provide the following benefits in addition to reducing your energy bills.

  • Improved Comfort. Efficient furnaces provide greater comfort because they cycle on and off less often, and have improved controls so as to provide more precise comfort control throughout the home.
  • Improved Indoor Air Quality. Some efficient furnaces (e.g. sealed combustion units) contain and exhaust all the "combustion products" with no chance of their being introduced into the home.
  • Improved Fire Safety. Efficient furnaces don't need to operate for as many hours to provide the required heat. This means that time when flames are present is reduced, which has been noted by some insurance companies as a benefit in terms of improved fire safety.

You can obtain additional benefits by having your contractor install the correct size (capacity) of furnace for your home. A properly sized furnace can reduce noise (because of its reduced airflow), increase comfort (because the longer run times provide a more consistent furnace output rate), improve combustion safety (because of decreased potential for depressurization), and also reduce energy consumption.

Efficient Oil-fired Water Heaters

Many efficient water heaters are better insulated and will cool off more slowly if the heating elements are unable to operate. (Since they rely on electronic ignitions, even gas-fired water heaters are vulnerable to power interruptions.)

One type of efficient water heater (the so-called "sealed combustion" style) reduces the chance of "backdrafting", in which dangerous pollutants can inadvertently spill back into the home rather than being exhausted to the outdoors.

Boiler Pipe Insulation

Boiler pipe insulation can help tone down the sound of water circulating through boiler pipes in the home.

Insulating boiler pipes also reduces the potential for freeze damage. While usually full of warm water, during periods in which the system is not operating (for example, when a home is unoccupied), water-filled pipes can freeze and break causing substantial damage to the home and contents.

Room Air Conditioners

Efficient room air conditioners (room A/Cs) may operate more quietly than minimum-efficiency room A/Cs.

Efficient room A/Cs may also be more visually appealing than minimum-efficiency units. They may have better-looking cabinets that provide movable louvers for directing airflow.

Some room A/Cs may have better control systems that improve the humidity and/or temperature control.

Refrigerators

An extra benefit of the more efficient compressors and motors found in energy-efficient refrigerators is that they run quieter and turn on and off less often.

Since efficient units gain heat from their surroundings more slowly they don't need to reject as much heat into your kitchen, making your home more comfortable during hot summer periods.

Because energy-efficient refrigerators are better insulated, they stay cool better than ordinary units. One major benefit of this, in addition to energy savings, is that during power outages they will warm up much more slowly than ordinary (less efficient) units. This means less inconvenience and loss of valuable contents.

Programmable Thermostats

Most people with standard thermostats turn them off at night or when away from home. With programmable units, the furnace can be turned on shortly before you wake up in the morning or return to your home, so that you don't have to wait for your house to reach the desired temperature. They can also be set back to cost-saving temperatures while you're away from home, protecting plants or pets while saving energy.

Upgraded Wall Insulation

Well-insulated walls can provide many sorts of benefits in addition to saving energy.

Well-insulated walls will make your home more comfortable by buffering your home against high outside temperatures in summer and cold temperatures in winter.

Well-insulated walls can also help minimize uncomfortable drafts and make your home quieter by blocking outdoor noise.

Properly installed insulation also helps to seal your home against unwanted air leakage (sometimes known as "infiltration"). By helping to reduce unwanted infiltration, the likelihood of moisture problems is also reduced. Moisture can be introduced into walls, floors, or ceiling cavities by outside weather conditions (humidity or precipitation) as well as indoor sources of moisture (people, showers, cooking, etc.) If the moisture meets cold surfaces along the way it can condense and invite mold growth or moisture damage problems.

Well-insulated walls can improve fire safety in several ways. Air leakage can supply outside air that helps to nourish fires, and uneven (or missing) insulation can provide channels within walls through which fires can spread. The use of approved products and installation practices (e.g. electrical safety measures) must be observed to guard against insulation-related fires.

Another benefit of well-insulated homes is that during power outages, your home can remain comfortable and habitable longer than the ordinary home. This can help lower the costs of relocation often faced by people during power outages caused by major storms and other natural disasters.

Proper wall insulation can reduce the risk of freeze damage to water pipes running inside the walls by insulating the pipes from the elements.

Thermally "massive" (e.g. concrete) and well-insulated walls also offer many of the above-mentioned benefits, in addition to helping take advantage of solar energy gains.

Windows

Efficient windows can provide more benefits than just energy savings. For example, efficient windows can:

  • improve comfort in the winter. Since an efficient window is better insulated from the elements, its interior surface will feel warmer to the touch during the winter. Whereas, the glass of most older, inefficient windows will feel cold to the touch. Cold glass can cause drafts when air coming into contact with the window is cooled and drops to the floor. This creates an airflow pattern that feels drafty and accelerates heat loss. An efficient window, being warmer, will have fewer drafts and less heat loss. You can also improve the comfort of your efficient window by making sure it is properly installed and sealed to reduce air leakage.
  • improve comfort in the summer. Efficient windows reduce the solar radiation coming into your home, which means your home will stay cooler in the summer.
  • reduce frost and condensation. High-performance windows have warmer interior glass surfaces, which cuts down on frost and condensation. Many efficient windows have improved spacers and insulating frames, which significantly reduce condensation under all conditions.
  • make your home quieter by reducing noise entry from outside, by providing sound insulation
  • minimize fading of materials (e.g., carpets and furniture) in the home by reducing incoming ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can also have benefits for human health. Low-E coated glass or windows incorporating plastic layers will reduce fading.
  • deter forced entry (multiple-pane windows or windows with energy-control films can be harder to break)
  • contribute to reduced furnace on-time, reducing the potential for fires from faulty HVAC systems
  • reduce glass breakage in fires, windstorms, or earthquakes

If you think that efficient windows significantly decrease the amount of visible light that comes into your house, or look funny from the outside, think again. In the past, people used tinted glazing or shades to reduce solar heat gain, but these measures reduced the amount of light coming into the house and were sometimes not very visually appealing. Now there are glazings, such as spectrally selective Low-E coatings, that can provide better solar heat gain reduction than tinted glass, with a minimal loss of visible light. Views will also remain clearer and without obstruction.

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