Can This Home Be Greened? Keeping the Haven Safe
(Page 2 of 4)
July/August 2009
By Carol Venolia
2. Lower cooling bills
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The hot desert sun hits the exposed east wall of the house every morning, then beats down on the roof all day. Two aging rooftop heat pumps provide mechanical heating and cooling. With utility bills peaking at more than $400 a month in summer, cooling is a prime target for improvement.
Solutions: A multifaceted approach will maximize natural cooling and minimize mechanical inefficiencies. To cut down on summer heat gain and winter heat loss, my first suggestions are to plant drought-tolerant shade trees and shrubs in the east yard, then seal air leaks by weatherstripping doors and applying caulk or expanding foam around windows, electrical boxes and other penetrations, and at the top and bottom plates of exterior walls. Making the roof more thermally efficient will also help (see item 3). Finally, they can replace the heating/cooling units with a single, high-efficiency model—which can be smaller because of the preceding efficiency measures.
Cost: Air-seal the house: $1,000; High-efficiency heating/air conditioning unit: $8,000
Brighten and breathe easy
3. Reroof for energy efficiency
The roof is typically the most vulnerable part of a house in terms of heat gain and loss. In summer, the sun beats straight down on the roof, and in winter warm indoor air rises to the ceiling.
Solutions: While reroofing, Chrystal and Richard can incorporate several “cool-roof” features. First, they should level out and add to their attic insulation (uneven blown-in fiberglass). A nontoxic option, such as recycled cellulose, is a good choice. Installing a radiant barrier in the attic will reflect solar heat. Richard and Chrystal should also select a new roofing material—such as an efficient, light-reflecting white metal roof—to deflect the sun’s heat. A new fan can replace hot attic air with cool night air.
Cost: Radiant barrier: $900; R-38 roof insulation: $1,900; New roof: $8,000; Attic fan: $500, installed
4. Open up to nature
A house that turns its back on the desert sun may stay cooler, but its dwellers can feel cut off from the outside world. We want to get Chrystal and Richard out of their cave without sacrificing protection from the harsh desert elements.