Building for the Future

What is Energy Efficiency? Why Does it Matter?

We spoke with an energy efficiency expert for answers.

There are a lot of buzzwords around energy these days, but simply put, energy efficiency is using less energy to get a job done. When it comes to our homes, using less energy typically means lower energy costs for things like electricity, gas, and water.

Whether you’re a homeowner or an aspiring homeowner, understanding the basics of energy efficiency can help you save money and be a better energy-conscious consumer.

To get the 411 on energy efficiency, we spoke with Tom Lienhard, a 25- year veteran of Avista and retired Chief Energy Efficiency Engineer. Tom continues to work as a consultant for homeowners and businesses that need help solving energy efficiency issues. Read on to learn Tom’s tips for saving energy and building homes that will perform for decades to come.

Toms #1 Tip For Energy Efficiency

We asked Tom to list the top things homeowners/future homeowners need to know about energy efficiency. He explained that most of the controllable energy used in a home is used for temperature control: heating, cooling, and water heating.

The top ways to reduce the energy used for heating and cooling are “through reduced infiltration and increased insulation… in other words, tightening a home’s shell and insulating are the most cost-effective ways to reduce the home’s energy use.”

So how exactly do you tighten and insulate your home? First, Tom recommends identifying how much energy you’re currently using. He shared his own energy monitoring process below.

How can I make my home for energy efficeint?

To help you figure out what areas of the home need to be tightened and insulated, Tom recommended installing a device on the main electric panel to show you how much energy is being used for each of your larger plug loads.

“In my home, I use a device by Emporia Energy to watch all the energy going through the important, or most energy-intensive, circuits in my home,” said Tom.

Tom said that Sense and Eyedro also provide similar devices that help identify how much energy you’re using. Your local utility provider’s website is another source that you can turn to for insights into your energy use. Essentially, once you’ve identified the biggest energy users in your home, you can begin to locate ways to tighten up your home and save energy.

Energy efficiency tips for home builders and homeowners

For current homeowners looking to reduce energy, Tom recommended:

1. Adding insulation in the attic, if necessary
2. Caulking the cracks on the outside of the home
3. Possibly using interior or exterior storm windows to decrease the heat loss in the winter and reduce the heat gain in the summer
4. Finding out which appliance energy user in your home is causing you to spend the most money and then researching how to reduce that energy/cost
5. Maintaining all of your devices like furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioners to make sure they use the least amount of energy possible

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5813 E 4th Ave, Suite 201
Spokane Valley, WA

The Spokane Home Builders Association is a member-driven organization that works to elevate professionalism in the residential construction industry, provide innovative resources and information to our members and engage in informative, effective advocacy on construction issues to create affordable housing options for the community. We promote, protect and educate the housing industry and our community.