Cooperative Living April 2022 - 26

ENERGY SENSE
Ask your home inspector if the
electrical panel can accommodate
new appliances.
Check for wear and tear
on outside heating and
cooling units.
You'll want to know the age
and efficiency of your home's
HVAC system.
Five Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector
by Miranda Boutelle, Contributing Columnist
Rely on a pro to let you know what's going to cost you dough
Q:
T
I'm planning to buy a new home this year,
and I want to know how efficient it is. What
questions should I ask my home inspector?
fififififis notfififig wfififig with bufifififi
an inefficiefit home, but you wilfi
fififit to kfifiw wfifit yfififififi gfifififififi
fifififi and tfifit you can fifififififi fihe fifififififi
fifififis once you get the kfififi. Hfifie are fivfi
fifififififififis fifi fisk fififir home fifififififififififi
1. What is the condition of the
electrical panel and wiring?
A panel fififirade or fifififififififi can fifi
a costly efififififififi. An older panel and
fififififig arfififit nefifififififiily inefficiefit, bufi
fifififi can fifififiy or fi fififi some fififififififi
efficiefifiy fifififififififi fifififi fifififififififie.
fifi fifififififil homes I fifififi fifififififi on,
fifififir fifififififi fiad fifi fifi fififififififid fififififie
fififififififiion could be added.
fi fififi fifififi fihe panel can fifififififi fififififi
fifiy new afififiiances you migfit wfifit tfi
fififi, such as afir condfififififififig or an
fifififififiic vehicle chfififififi.
2. How old is the HVAC system
and how efficient is it?
The tfififififil lfifififipan of an Hfififi
fifififififi is 15 to 25 fififififi. As fihe fififififififi
fifififififi fififir and ft fifi fihe most fififififififififi
24 ● Cooperative Living ●
April 2022
A:
3.
It can be difficult for a buyer to know how efficient a home
is when viewing the listing online or taking a tour. Your
home inspector can help you identify potential energy costs
and energy-efficiency upgrades.
fifififififififit fifi fihe home, you fifififi fifififi
fio kfifiw the efififififi, mfifififififiance and
fifififififififififit costfi.
How old is the water heater?
Th fififififipan of a fifififififie fifififir fifififififi
is abfifit 10 years. The cost to rfiplace
a wfififir heafifir ranfies from $400 tfi
$3,600, defifififififig on the ufiit tfifie and
fifififififififififion fififififi. fifi an fifififir fifififir fifififififi
is fifi a fifififififid fipace or on a fificond fl fififi
fifiplace it bfifififie it ffiils and pfifififififififififi
fififises fifififir fififififie.
4. How is the insulation in the attic,
walls and floor?
fifififififififion is one of fihe fifisiest fififi
most bfineficial efifififififiefficiefifiy
fififirades you can fi fifie. fifi can fi fifie
a home fifiel fifififi fififififififiable, fifiste
fififis efifififiy and rfiduce oufifififir noise.
fio cut dofin on drafts and mfififi
fifififififififion more effefifififie, fifir fififil bfififififi
fifififififififififi. Sfifil cracks, gfips or holes in
fihe wfifils, floors, ceilfifig and framifig
fifififififin heafifid and ufifififififid sfififififi.
fifi fififir fifiw home fififids fifififififififion
and afir seafifififi, mfifie tfiis your efficiefifiy
fifififififififi. Th fifififififi you do it, fihe
fififie efifififiy you will safie over tfime.
fiou can find fifififififi fifiion fififififi
fififififififiion and afir seafififig at efififififififififi.
5. Will any extras in this home
increase my utility bills?
fifiy fififiors fifi fihe home or on fififi
fifififififififi should fifi fififififififififi fififififififififi
fififi ps for fififils and fifififiic fifififififi fifi
fififi wfifil wfifit to be afififi to afffifid tfifi
cost of fifififififififig fifififififiies, such afi
fifiols, hot tubs and safifififi.
fififi n bufififig a home tfifit checks
fifil your bfifies, ask your home ififififififififi
fihe fifififit efficiefifiy fifififififififififi
fi fififififififififififig fihe fifififififiion fifi
fifififiiances, feafififies and buildfififi
fi fifififififils can safie you from hiddefi
fififififiises fifi fififir home and on fififir
first few ufififi
fifiy bilfifi. 
Miranda Boutelle writes on energyefficiency
topics for the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association.
co-opliving.com
http://www.co-opliving.com

Cooperative Living April 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living April 2022

Cooperative Living April 2022 - 1
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 2
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 3
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 4
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 5
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 6
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 7
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 8
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 9
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 10
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 11
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 12
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 13
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 14
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 15
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 16
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 17
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 18
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 19
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 20
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 21
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 22
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 23
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 24
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 25
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 26
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 27
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 28
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 29
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 30
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 31
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 32
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 33
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 34
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 35
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 36
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 37
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 38
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 39
Cooperative Living April 2022 - 40
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-nov-dec_2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cooperative-living-july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CL-May2024/cooperativelivingmay2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/CooperativeLiving-June2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cooperativelivingmay2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2014
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com