Smart Connections with HGTV's Pat Simpson

As the housing market tightens, more people are deciding to remodel their homes rather than move. If you're remodeling in order to stay in your current home, you can reap the benefits of adding energy efficiency to your remodeling checklist. Increasing energy efficiency will reduce your utility bills as well as your home's impact on the environment.    When building and planning an addition, you can save energy by:

• Installing ENERGY STAR®-qualified appliances, lighting, doors and windows.

• Installing ENERGY STAR-qualified heating and cooling equipment that has been properly sized by an experienced contractor.

• Making sure workers add the preferred amount of insulation and seal ducts in unconditioned spaces as well as sealing around windows, doors and pipes.

• Building in shading, such as a porch or tall landscaping to reduce heat from the sun.

• Making sure that where the addition meets the main house is well sealed. 

Finishing bonus rooms and attics are common ways to add space, but these rooms can be hot in summer and cold in winter if you don't think about energy efficiency during the remodeling process. These rooms often have ceilings that follow the pitch of the roof and knee walls, the short walls below the lower ceiling. Knee walls not only need to be insulated, but also need sheathing on the other side. If there is an access door into the space behind the knee wall, make certain to attach foam rigid board to the back of the access door to reduce heat transmission. In addition, be sure all openings to unconditioned space, such as around plumbing and wiring, are sealed, and insulation is installed correctly, including floor insulation if the room is over the garage. Thermostatically controlled attic exhaust fans will force hot attic air to the outdoors through soffit or ridge vents.

For other improvements you can do to increase your home's efficiency and comfort, schedule a Right Choice(tm) High Tech Audit. The audit uses specialized equipment to pinpoint potential problem areas, such as areas that need additional sealing, insulation or ductwork. The audit costs average $350, but Jackson EMC members can receive rebates to offset part of these costs. To schedule an audit, call 1-800-462-3691 and ask to be transferred to a residential marketing representative in the Jackson EMC office nearest you.

For additional information about home energy efficiency, see Smart Energy Use and check on ways to analyze energy use. You can also learn more about energy-efficient home improvement from the Home Improvement section of the ENERGY STAR Web site.