Take steps to conserve energy and lower bills in your home

MOUNT VERNON - Energy conservation was not a consideration when the Mount Vernon home of Bryce and Kelli Chapman was built in 1875. As Bryce Chapman remodels the house they purchased six years ago, though, saving money on energy bills is a priority. So the Chapmans recently took advantage of Alliant Energy's free home energy audit to determine what would make the 135-year-old house more energy-efficient.

“With the economy being like it is, everybody has to try to save as much money as possible,” Bryce Chapman said. “If I can get rebates on a lot of the materials that help defray the cost of the remodeling, why not?” If you're looking for ways to cut utility bills, a home energy audit is a good first step. After all, the cheapest energy is the energy that you don't use.

An energy audit will identify energy-saving steps you can take, from the fairly cheap - buying materials to seal windows and doors, for example - to the more expensive, like purchasing new doors, windows or energy-efficient appliances.

To qualify for a free home energy audit, you need to own a home built before Jan. 1, 2000. If you're renting, the owner of the home must give approval.

The energy audit of the Chapman home found some “low-hanging fruit” - adding insulation and sealing around new windows - as well as more costly, longer term options - replacing the stove, refrigerator and furnace with higher efficiency models.

Nancy Craig of Alliant Energy said getting an energy checkup during the remodeling process will work to the Chapmans' advantage.

“They will be able to get it right from the beginning of the construc­tion,” said Craig, Alliant strategic communications manager. “Many homeowners decide after living in their home for a number of years that it's probably time to upgrade the insulation or windows. That's a more typical situation where they're trying to find out why they're losing heat.” Alliant pays A-Tec Energy of Urbandale to conduct the energy audits.

Irv Schau of A-Tec Energy said adding insulation, sealing around doors and installing energy-efficient windows will reduce the Chapmans' heating costs.

“You should see a 15 percent to 18 percent savings on your yearly heating bill at today's prices,” Schau said.

Plus, rebates help offset costs. Schau notes that Alliant offers rebates on Energy Star-rated windows, and it will reimburse 70 percent of the cost of attic, foundation and in-wall insulation, up to $750. It also will reimburse up to 70 percent of the total cost of materials for sealing, caulking and weatherstripping, up to $200.

“That's money that you should't leave on the table,” he said.

Schau noted that the Chapmans have a furnace rated at 90 percent energy-efficiency. Alliant recommends a 96 percent energy-efficient furnace, but Schau said the $3,000 cost of buying a new furnace would not be offset by the $130 annual savings in natural gas.

Schau installed free compact fluorescent light bulbs, a process that Bryce Chapman had already begun when incandescent bulbs burned out. Schau also replaced the aerator in a faucet to improve water flow and reduce consumption, which helps reduce water-heater use.

The Chapmans already have a programmable thermostat to reduce energy use when the home is not occupied.

Lisa Pucelik, Alliant residential programs product manager, said a programmable thermostat costs between $30 and $60, but it qualifies for a $25 rebate.

Pucelik said making a home more energy-efficient can cost as little as $50 for weatherization materials or as much as several thousand dollars for a new furnace.

“When we talk about energy-efficiency with customers, we ask them to think of a three-level pyramid,” Pucelik said.

At the bottom is behavioral changes, like turning off lights, adjust­ing the thermostat or washing clothes in cold water.

In the middle are lowcost things, like installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, changing furnace filters regularly, switching to an energy-saving shower head and weatherizing.

At the top are major improvements, like purchasing an energyefficient furnace, water heater or appliance, such as a washing machine, dishwasher, freezer or refrigerator.

Alliant Energy, which supplies natural gas to Mount Vernon and a number of Eastern Iowa communities, paid for about 4,500 home energy audits in 2009. MidAmerican Energy, which supplies natural gas to homes in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, contracted for about 7,000 such audits last year.

MidAmerican also offers rebates for the purchase of energy-efficient appliances, insulation, sealing materials and windows. Both companies offer financing for the purchase of energy-efficient equipment, too.

Alliant Energy will pay a recycling contractor to haul away and dispose of an old working freezer, refrigerator or window air conditioner. The utility pays a $50 reward for freezers and refrigerators and $25 for a room air conditioner.

“That old refrigerator in the garage that a homeowner uses to keep their beer cold is adding about $100 annually to their electric bill,” Pucelik said. “We will take it off their hands and also give them a check.” Plus, the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 allows homeowners to claim a maximum of $1,500 in tax credits on eligible energy-efficient equipment purchases. In most cases, homeowners can claim 30 percent of the total cost of the improvement until they reach the $1,500-per-house limit.