Energy efficiency energizes home show

Energy efficiency was the major focus of the Mid-Missouri Home and Garden Expo as many of the approximately 9,000 attendees were looking for ways to weatherize their homes while weathering the tough economy.
The recession is leading more homeowners to stay put, remodel and upgrade their current homes, rather than buying new ones, said Annie Pope, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Columbia
In hard times energy efficiency stretches the dollar. “Over the last few days, everybody is talking about, ‘how can we make our home more energy efficient,'” Mike Babcock, sales manager of Missouri Insulation and Supply, said during the trade show last month.
But it’s more than just money driving the interest. Home improvement picks up when people try to spruce up what they already have, and energy conservation plays a role, said Jim Parks, this year’s celebrity guest and host of HGTV’s “New Spaces” program.
“In this economy, there is more attention being put on ‘my house’ to make it more saleable, more livable and more valuable,” Parks said. “When the market turns around, and you can actually start to sell, then you’ll have something more to work with. By then, you will have increased the value of your home, and you’ll have enjoyed the benefits of an updated kitchen, bathroom or whatever.”
Among the booth sponsors were several of the 11 companies approved by the city to perform energy audits for the Home Performance with Energy Star program, sponsored by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which helps homeowners bring their homes up to national Energy Star standards. The audits commonly recommend sealing air leaks and ductwork, insulation, improvements to heating and cooling systems and upgraded lighting and appliances.
“Energy costs keep going up,” said Travis Condict of Simple Energy Solutions. “It’s getting to the point where people are starting to notice and want to do something about it.”
According to its Web site, Columbia Water and Light’s residential customers are eligible for audits. If they hire an approved contractor to assess the home at a cost of $250 to $400, they may qualify for tax credits, rebates or low-interest loans to make energy-efficiency improvements. Rebates may be as much as $1,210 for home improvements and up to $1,600 for the purchase of a high-efficiency air conditioner. Ten-year energy-efficiency loans are available at the prime lending rate.
The contractors use infrared cameras, blower doors and special tests to pinpoint problems. After the contractor fixes the problems, the city inspects the home to make sure the repairs are working.
“We look at it from a holistic point of view; you can’t just add insulation and expect it to work,” said Dan Riepe, owner of The Home Performance Experts. “You have to figure out how many times the home is replacing new air with old air.”
Their techniques have been developed over 30 years of experience in government weatherization work, said Trevor Banning, co-owner of Enhanced Energy Solutions LLC. “It’s been a long time coming,” he said.
Condict of Simple Energy Solutions said his recommendations often are paid off within five years. “Usually, the attic is where the problem is,” Condict said. “Most people get a 20 percent return on their investment, which is better than the stock market lately.”
Now that Columbia offers net metering, in which customers receive credit for energy they generate, some customers have decided to install solar panels. Although the city provides a rebate of $500 per kilowatt for up to a 10-kilowatt system, and federal tax credits are available to cover 30 percent of the installation, the cost is often about $15,000 for a 2 kilowatt system even after government assistance, according to Columbia Water and Light’s Web site. That’s often too steep for the average homeowner.
A homeowner interested in a solar system should get an energy assessment first, said Tracy Banning, co-owner of Enhanced Energy Solutions, because lower energy consumption reduces the need for a larger, more expensive system.
“It’s an exciting time,” she said of the many possibilities in energy-efficient technologies available today. “People are looking for more ways to save money, and making your home more energy-efficient can pay for itself.”