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In these times of energy shortage and fuel price increase, the question that is often asked by homeowners is, "Do I really need to retrofit in order to save energy costs?" Well, I can understand their reluctance, considering that doing a retrofit really means spending money upfront without seeing much immediate gains. The challenge then is to determine what kind of retrofit will benefit the homeowners most. Just like in any kinds of investment, very often the gains are long term. But if you own an older manufactured home, then the chances are good that you will be able to gain much by doing an energy efficiency retrofit. Here are some of the reasons: All homes experience wear and tear. Wind, rain, humidity, vibrations, sunlight and seasonal temperature changes can loosen up a tight home, increasing air leakage. Doors and windows may no longer close tightly, and air conditioning ductwork can develop leaks, wasting huge amounts of heating or cooling energy. Furnaces, air conditioners, and water heaters get worn out and gradually lose their efficiency, especially if regular cleaning and maintenance hasn't been done. Technologies change. While your manufactured home may have been built to the energy standards of the time, dramatic progress has been made over the past few decades with high-efficiency mechanical equipment, insulation, windows, and so forth. Newer technologies are often very much more efficient. Energy costs are going up. Whether you use electricity, natural gas, propane, or oil, these prices will continue to rise. Improving your home now guards against future increases, and rolls back the costs you're paying today. In the long term, by doing an energy efficiency retrofit, you will be able to: Lower energy and homeownership costs Protect against future increases in energy costs Improve comfort in your home due to better control of temperature, moisture and drafts Enjoy increased resale value of your home due to its lower operating costs Contribute to environmental stewardship of reduced energy consumption and pollution How do you know whether an energy efficiency retrofit will benefit you? Below are some symptoms to look out for: Your utility bills are very much higher than your neighbors even though you have similar homes and lifestyles. Of course it makes sense to check on homes that have been retrofitted. Your home was built before 1994 and hasn't been significantly improved or upgraded. Your heating, cooling, or water heating equipment breaks down a lot. The equipment is in bad shape. You feel drafts inside on windy days. The window/door seals are not sealing properly. The air near the floor is significantly cooler than the air near the ceiling. You have to wait a long time for hot water, and water cools off quickly between uses. The insulation is not good. Heat is lost. You have to set the thermostat below 70 degree Fahrenheit to stay cool in the summer. The air conditioning unit is not cooling fast enough. You have trouble keeping your home warm in winter or cool in summer. Energy is lost. There are large fluctuations in your utility bills from month to month, and especially from the same month of the previous year. There is condensation on the inside surface of your windows in the winter. After looking at the reasons above, do you think an energy efficiency retrofit is for you? A good contractor will be able to discuss with you about the jobs he will be carrying out and their significance in the whole scheme of energy efficiency. There is no doubt about it - it's a long term investment that is going to benefit you, but once retrofitted, do make a conscious effort to maintain the efficiency by doing a proper and regular maintenance on the equipment, the insulation and the integrity of the house. Then it is money well spent.
Article Source: http://www.bestglobalwarmingarticles.com
Thomas Yoon specializes in cartoon illustrations that will make an impact on people's opinions. Subscribe to TechMarketing Ezine. More information on engineering at Marine and M & E Engineer.
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