How to Get Your Home Certified as Energy Efficient

You could save a tremendous amount of money on utility expenses and feel great about supporting a healthy environment by living in an energy-efficient home in Broussard, LA. In fact, with thoughtful home improvement efforts, your home could receive certification from ENERGY STAR, LEED, HERS, and the National Green Building Standard. The first step is to reduce energy consumption by focusing on a few critical steps.

Upgrade Your Air Conditioning System

If your home’s air conditioner is older, it may be cost-effective to upgrade to a more energy-efficient model. The EER, or energy efficiency ratio, of an AC system tells you how much cooling power a system has based on the energy that it consumes. Look for a new AC system with an EER of 15 or higher.

Seal or Upgrade Windows

Even with the most energy-efficient system installed in your home, other factors can reduce its overall efficiency. For example, air leaks around the windows or solar heating through the glass can reduce overall efficiency. Seal the windows annually as an essential home maintenance project, and analyze the benefits of replacing older or low-quality windows.

Improve Insulation

Climate-controlled air can also leak out through exterior walls and through the attic when the home is not well-insulated. Even high-quality insulation can degrade or slouch down in the walls over time. Request an audit of your home’s insulation to determine if it would benefit from the installation of high-grade insulation.

How to Apply for Certifications

Each organization has unique standards that you should meet before applying for their certification. These are only some of the steps that you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your home and to meet or exceed the high standards of the certifying organizations. Review the requirements for the certifications that you are interested in so that you can thoughtfully make additional improvements as necessary.

Fontenot’s Cooling & Heating is the trusted HVAC company that you can contact for assistance with your HVAC replacement and other heating and cooling service needs. Schedule an appointment with us today to inquire about the benefits of an upgrade in your home.

Image provided by iStock