Green Real Estate in Idaho

All evidence to the contrary, we are fast approaching “summer” which will bring with it some higher temperatures, at least we hope it will. While Boise and the Treasure Valley are not unbearable, it isn’t uncommon to see sustained summer temps in the high 80’s/mid 90’s. By my recollection we usually have a week in late July or early August where we regularly break 100 degrees as well. Thankfully, we’re situated in a high desert area, so even when it’s hot it’s still a dry heat. This is much more manageable in my humble opinion, humidity is bad, bad, bad.

Of course, even a dry heat needs to be regulated, especially to keep your home comfortable for yourself, your family, and any friends who may be stopping by. There are quite a few ways that you can improve your ability to cool your home in the heat of the summer. Many of these make great weekend projects if you are a do-it-yourself type. If getting your hands dirty isn’t your cup of tea, any handyman can make short work of these without breaking the bank.

Without further ado, let’s tear into the details so that you can get your home ready for summer!

* Think WHITE

– White paint, blinds, roofing tiles, etc. reflect heat away from your home. By adjusting your blinds in east-facing rooms in the morning and west-facing rooms in the afternoon you will help your home’s A/C function more efficiently.

– If you’re getting a new roof, consider white shingles. They look a little strange (most seem to be black/brown) but it will likely make a very noticeable difference in the indoor temps. Be sure to check with your HOA depending on where you live to ensure you’re not getting yourself into trouble down the road.

– Not a white item, but along with roofing, check your attic spaces for suitable insulation. Moving from 3″ to 12″ of attic insulation could cut cooling costs by up to 10%

* Move AIR

– Stagnant hot air is much less tolerable than moving hot air. While most designers seem to hate ceiling fans, they can be a great way to move air and make a room feel 5 to 7 degrees cooler. A power estimate I saw online puts the most power hungry fan, running 12 hours a day, at $10 or less per month for electricity.

– Can’t stand ceiling fans, consider a portable fan (available at any big-box or hardware store) that you can place strategically and remove when no longer needed.

– Summer mode for your ceiling fan should be pushing air downward.

* Don’t Generate HEAT

– Face it, it’s easier to maintain a pleasant indoor temp if you’re not generating an abundance of heat in the first place. Anymore we have so many gadgets and appliances plugged in that generate radiant heat constantly that it makes a serious impact on the temperature of your home, even when off.

– Keep appliances, lamps, or other “hot” items away from your thermostat. These items will convince the HVAC system that it needs to continue cooling due to the inflated temperature near the thermostat and increase wear on the system.

– Keep those lights off, where possible switch to compact fluorescent bulbs as they generate the same amount of light without nearly the heat and consume less energy.

– Try to avoid generating heat in the first place. The biggest culprits are likely going to be your oven and your dryer. Operating these appliances in the mid afternoon, when it’s already hot as the sun in your living room will make it that much harder for your A/C to maintain a comfortable temperature. Where possible, try to do the bulk of your drying in the morning when it’s still cool. Avoiding the oven in the afternoon can be tough, consider warming leftovers in the microwave or focus on salads, sandwiches and anything that won’t require major cooking if it’s really hot. Who wants a hot meal when it’s 100 degrees anyway?

* Landscape, Landscape, Landscape

– Landscaping around your A/C unit to provide shade (without blocking airflow) will help it operate more efficiently.

– Pergolas and trees that shad east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon will help to keep the heat outside in the first place. Face it, you’re going to plant things in the yard anyway… you might as well place them so that you get the maximum benefit for your $$.

Depending on how many projects you tackle, you should be able to make at least a small dent in your utility bills and make your home that much more comfortable at the same time. Seriously, there are better things for you to do with your money than sending it to the power company. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Tucked away in the stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama Feb. 17 is a provision that provides homeowners with an expanded tax credit for installing geothermal heat pump systems.

Previously homeowners were allowed a 30 percent credit up to $2,000 for installing geothermal systems, but new rules under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 remove the $2,000 cap.

These revised credits are retroactive and can be taken advantage of between January 1st through December 31st of 2016.

For those of you who may not be in the “know” about geothermal heating, the basic process is pretty straightforward.  Pipes are installed around the property, to what depth depends on the area but the most important factor is to dig well below the frost line to prevent freezing.  Once completed the underground pipes circulate water which maintains its constant temp.  When the water circulates through the heat exchanger in the house it passes over coils containing a refrigerant, which absorbs this heat.  The refrigerant is then raised to the desired temperature using pressure provided by a compressor.

In the summer time the entire process is reversed with the flip of a switch.  In a “cooling mode” the system draws warm air from the home and the heat exchanger transfers this heat into the water circulating over the coils passing it on through the system where the water is cooled as it circulates underground.  Much like the way a refrigerator works, but on a much larger scale.

Aside from the energy savings, which seem to be dramatic, the system is quiet, odorless there are almost no moving parts, just the pump.   In an effort to both conserve energy and save money geothermal heating/cooling seems like a no brainer for both builders and home owners looking to go green to save green.

You can of course read more about the changes to the tax credit here.