Locals call on Energy Star partners

Alex and Claire DeJesus retrofitted their 15-year-old home in Henderson to reduce energy consumption and save money on their energy bills.

"After we received our power bill in July 2002, we knew that something had to be done," Claire DeJesus said. "Owning an older home, we were aware the modifications would be an added cost, but decided the enhanced value and long-term savings would far exceed our initial investment."

The couple called on several members of Nevada Energy Star Partners for assistance. The partnership is a voluntary coalition of local home builders, developers, retailers, finance companies, energy consultants and utility companies promoting energy conservation.

First, the DeJesuses contacted Energy Inspectors, a certified Home Energy Rating System, to evaluate their home. Their HERS score was a less-than-perfect.

"Scoring an 80.5 out of 100 on the initial HERS evaluation, the DeJesus' home was in obvious need of an energy-efficiency makeover," company President Phil Mestler said.

Alex DeJesus proceeded to seal and tighten the home's ductwork and air boxes to ensure the proper amount of conditioned air was being distributed to each room. This reduced the intake of dust, pollen, and other pollutants from the home's unconditioned spaces, and also reduced the amount of conditioned air needed to heat and cool the home.

The couple then sought financing for their energy-efficiency makeover through Countrywide Home Loans, which offers an energy-efficient mortgage.

"(These) mortgages enable homeowners to make energy-efficient modifications to their homes, and add the cost of those modifications to their mortgage at the time of purchase or refinancing," said Cathleen Channel, a branch manager for the firm.

With financing secured, the couple hired Sierra Air Conditioning to replace their air-conditioning unit with a water-cooled condensing unit. The DeJesuses also had low-emissivity windows installed throughout their home.

"Installing high-quality, low-e windows will let the natural light into the home, while keeping the ultraviolet rays and heat out, resulting in a cooler, more energy-efficient home," Tom Seidl, sales manager at Milgard Windows, said.

The couple also made some simple modifications such as replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, and adding insulation to their garage door and water heater.

"With all of the modifications, we have increased our HERS score to 89, which exceeds the Energy Star requirement of 86," DeJesus said. "Most importantly, we are saving an estimated $567 annually on our energy bill."

Nevada Power Co. encourages all homeowners to consider energy-saving modifications.

"For homeowners, investing in energy-efficient modifications to an older home has obvious and important benefits: saving money and adding economic value," company representative Arnold Lopez said. "When a home or business is more energy efficient, it has a positive impact on our environment by conserving natural resources. I encourage all homeowners to assess their energy use, make necessary changes and reap the benefits of lower utility bills."

For more information, visit www.reviewjournal.com/real estate and click on the Energy Star link.

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