Cooperative Living July 2017 - 29

similar homes. Although you may
request electricity, natural gas or propane
bills from the sellers so that your clients
can estimate how much it will cost to
heat and cool the home annually, this is
not a precise measure of home energy
performance. The Home Energy Rating
System (HERS) Index is like a " milesper-gallon "
rating for a home that allows
consumers to comparison-shop based on
energy performance, similar to the way
they can comparison-shop for cars. A
certified RESNET Home Energy Rater
will need to inspect the home and
develop a HERS rating. This rating can
be done during the inspection process,
or you may request a HERS rating from
the seller.
Although many homebuyers focus
on energy features that have the
strongest impact on the aesthetics of the
home, such as windows and lighting
fixtures, it's the hidden systems like
appliances that have the most impact
on energy performance. Heating-andcooling
systems consume about half of
a home's energy use and are costly to
replace. Here are a couple questions
homebuyers should consider about
heating and cooling:
* How old is the heating
system? If the home's
heating system is more
than 10 years old, it
may be necessary to
replace it in the
near-term.
* What is the seasonal
energy efficiency rating
(SEER)? Find out the
SEER for the home's airconditioning
system. If
the air conditioner has a
SEER of less than 8, you
will likely want to
replace it.
A home's building
envelope insulates
the home's interior from the outdoor
environment and includes features like
doors, walls and the roof. If the quality of
the building envelope is compromised, it
can contribute to higher heating-andcooling
costs. R-value is the thermalresistance
measurement used for insulation,
indicating its resistance to heat flow. You
may want to learn about the recommended
R-value for homes in your region so you
will have a general sense about the quality
of a home's building envelope.
BEING IN
THE KNOW
IS COOL
Heating and cooling is the largest
energy expense for most homes.
Practicing energy-efficient habits and
taking other energy-wise actions to
keep your home cool can reduce energy
use for air conditioning by up to 50%,
and prevent unwanted increases in your
energy bill during hot summer months.
From heat pumps and central a/c to
window or ductless mini-split units,
proper installation, maintenance and
operation of your cooling equipment
is essential to ensure it is running as
energy efficiently as possible.
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July 2017 | Cooperative Living | 27
Kanyon Payne, a home energy rater with United Cooperative
Service, uses an infrared camera to show consumers where
energy losses are occurring.
If your clients determine energy
investments are necessary in a home they
are considering, it can be helpful to call
your local electric cooperative. Many
electric co-ops can assist with energy audits
and offer incentives for energy-efficient
heating-and-cooling equipment. 
This column was written by Pat Keegan of
Collaborative Efficiency. For more information
on how to consider energy-efficiency when
purchasing a home, please visit:
www.collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips.
UNITED COOPERATIVE SERVICE
http://www.collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips http://ee.odec.com/learning-center http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living July 2017

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