I was not keen.
I remembered the time two young men turned up for a “free audit” arranged by the Center for Ecological Technology. That was a long time ago, but I think of it every time I go into my basement, where those young men went crazy with cans of bright orange spray foam. They sealed cracks, no question. But their work was a mess and an eyesore impossible to get rid of.
This time, I was determined not to let anyone loose on my precious old beams and windows. But it was time to see what recommendations they might make in this new era of heat pumps, efficient appliances, and solar panels.
I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to hear that Massachusetts is out front. (There is a lot of money in the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 for home energy-saving improvements, but I’d read that this was only beginning to move out to the state agencies.)
Every region has its own features. An article in the Financial Times reported that “Improving the efficiency of Britain’s homes is vital if the UK is to reach its net zero target by 2050. The large number of older properties — nearly 5mn homes across England, roughly a fifth of the total, were built before 1919 — often lack modern insulation methods and materials, meaning they emit a disproportionate share of emissions.” New England, too, has a lot of old houses and the fellow who turned up to do our assessment was unperturbed about checking over a house built in 1868.
Removing the remains of knob-and-tube wiring is the first step. This type of wiring dates back to the first half of the 20th century but there are still remnants of it in my basement and attic (see photo). It’s not connected to anything, but it’s still considered a bit dodgy. I’d like to have a word with the workmen who didn’t bother to pull it out when they put in a new system.
A good assessment won’t focus only on the big, costly items, but on ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste.
It was a good sign when one of the forms I signed at the end of the audit was confirming that I had been given energy efficiency advice.The first 2 tips were familiar: wash clothes in cold water, and a full refrigerator and freezer uses less p0wer. But the 3rd tip was new: use wool balls in the dryer. I had heard of them, but thought it was one of the goofy green tips floating around. I hadn’t grasped that the balls aren’t there to absorb dampness but to keep the clothes moving freely so they dry more quickly. I knew that this works because I occasionally wash a down-filled duvet in the washing machine (cold water!) and then dry it with tennis balls to bat up the down and make the duvet fluffy again. I saw that wool balls would have the same effect on all my clothes. Eyes open at last!
I thought about making my own and managed to produce some with an old sweater, tying big knots over and over. Then I checked the price of wool balls from New Zealand. I paid US$12.50 for 6. This is such an easy, inexpensive fix!
“I dry a lot of my clothes on a clothes rack,” I said, trying to redeem myself. I took him to see this clever system, which I got in the UK. It makes it really easy to dry heavier things - even flannel sheets - indoors. By using the pulley system, the clothes rails end up near the ceiling, where it’s warmer.
Find an energy audit in your area
I’m now waiting to see just how an energy makeover will be done here, starting with the removal of the last of the knob-and-tube and moving on to heatpumps and electric water heaters.
Wherever you are, see what’s available now and be alert to new government and energy company offerings. Simply search “home energy audit” and you’re almost certain to find some programs. But beware: there are many entrepreneurial types hawking one system or another - double-pane windows or solar panels, for example. This isn’t where to start. You need an assessment first, then to do your own research on options and rebates, and only as a third step commit any money.
I forgot to include a link to this article, which explains some of the challenges in the US in financing upgrades. It's a free gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/01/opinion/rebates-tax-credits-energy-homes.html?unlocked_article_code=1.50w.7p39.gRGRo16tTNWO&smid=url-share.
This is a great article! Great advice for those who feel overwhelmed by the IRA, and not only that, but a great approach to home energy audits!