{"id":31140,"date":"2022-09-07T23:33:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T23:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=31140"},"modified":"2022-09-09T08:13:03","modified_gmt":"2022-09-09T08:13:03","slug":"the-most-cost-effective-energy-efficiency-investments-you-can-make-and-how-the-new-inflation-reduction-act-could-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/the-most-cost-effective-energy-efficiency-investments-you-can-make-and-how-the-new-inflation-reduction-act-could-help\/","title":{"rendered":"The most cost-effective energy efficiency investments you can make \u2013 and how the new Inflation Reduction Act could\u00a0help"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jasmina Burek<\/a>, UMass Lowell<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Energy efficiency can save homeowners and renters hundreds of dollars a year, and the new Inflation Reduction Act<\/a> includes a wealth of home improvement rebates and tax incentives to help Americans secure those saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It extends tax credits<\/a> for installing energy-efficient windows, doors, insulation, water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners or heat pumps, as well as for home energy audits. It also offers rebates for low- and moderate-income households<\/a>\u2019 efficiency improvements, up to US$14,000 per home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, these incentives aim to cut energy costs for consumers who use them by $500 to $1,000 per year<\/a> and reduce the nation\u2019s climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With so many options, what are the most cost-effective moves homeowners and renters can make?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My lab<\/a> at UMass Lowell works on ways to improve sustainability in buildings and homes by finding cost-effective design solutions to decrease their energy demand and carbon footprint. There are two key ways to cut energy use: energy-efficient upgrades and behavior change. Each has clear winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stop the leaks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The biggest payoff for both saving money and reducing emissions is weatherizing the home to stop leaks. Losing cool air in summer and warm air in winter means heating and cooling systems run more, and they\u2019re among the most energy-intensive systems in a home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gaps along the baseboard where the wall meets the floor and at windows, doors, pipes, fireplace dampers and electrical outlets are all prime spots for drafts. Fixing those leaks can cut a home\u2019s entire energy use by about 6%, on average, by our estimates. And it\u2019s cheap, since those fixes mostly involve caulk<\/a> and weather stripping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Illustration<\/a>
Common places where homes leak \u2013 and where weatherization measures can save money. Department of Energy<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Inflation Reduction Act offers homeowners a hand. It includes a $150 rebate to help pay for a home energy audit that can locate leaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a professional audit can help, it isn\u2019t essential \u2013 the Department of Energy website offers guidance for doing your own inspection<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you find the leaks, the act includes 30% tax credits with a maximum of $1,200 a year for basic weatherization work, plus rebates up to $1,600<\/a> for low- and moderate-income homeowners earning less than 150% of the local median.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Replace windows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Replacing windows is more expensive upfront but can save a lot of money<\/a> on energy costs. Leaky windows and doors are responsible for 25% to 30% of residential heating and cooling costs<\/a>, according to Department of Energy estimates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insulation can also reduce energy loss<\/a>. But with the exception of older homes with poor insulation and homes facing extreme temperatures, it generally doesn\u2019t have as high of a payoff in whole-house energy savings as weatherization or window replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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