EPA releases 'Energy Star' tool for seasonal utility savings

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched its Energy Star Home Advisor, an online tool designed to help Americans save money and energy by improving the energy efficiency of their homes through recommended, customized and prioritized home-improvement projects.

As we enter the winter months, homeowners can use our new Energy Star Home Advisor to increase energy efficiency and save money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change, said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. When homeowners take advantage of this important tool and increase the energy efficiency of their homes, many families will notice savings on energy bills and improvements in the comfort of their homes.

The updated Energy Star Home Advisor guides the homeowner through a do-it-yourself energy assessment to create an Energy Star home profile. Based on the newly created profile, the Home Advisor provides customized, prioritized recommendations for improvements. From these recommendations, users can create their own to-do lists of projects such as adding insulation to the attic or replacing an HVAC air filter.

Over time, users can update their home profiles as they make improvements, see the positive environmental impacts of the changes theyve made, get additional recommendations, and update their to-do lists for future projects. The home profiles can also be printed and used at the time of sale.

The announcement is part of EPAs Energy Efficiency Action Week, during which EPA regional offices across the country will hold events to increase awareness about the energy and cost savings associated with energy efficiency upgrades, especially in the winter months.

Homeowners can also use the following Energy Star tips to save energy and money at home this winter:

Get a Home Energy Audit - Home energy auditors are trained and certified in how to find energy problems using specialized equipment to pinpoint key areas for improvement and provide customized recommended solutions. In select states, Home Performance with Energy Star offers an energy assessment that focuses on a systematic approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort.

Seal and Insulate - The average home spends $2,000 on utility bills each year. Heating and cooling costs account for nearly half of that amount. Energy Star estimates that homeowners can save up to 10 percent on heating and cooling costs by sealing air leaks and adding insulation.

Heat Efficiently Energy Star recommends that homeowners check their HVAC system air filters every month. A dirty filter will slow air flow and make the system work harder wasting energy and possibly shortening the life of the system. A good rule to follow is change the filter every three months.

Energy Star also recommends that homeowners have HVAC systems serviced annually by a licensed contractor to ensure theyre running at optimum efficiency. If the heating system is over 15 years old, consider planning for its replacement with a high efficiency unit. Today's Energy Star certified condensing furnaces operate at over 90 percent efficiency. Depending on where one lives, replacing old heating and cooling equipment with newly certified Energy Star equipment can cut annual energy bills by more than $115.

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EPA releases 'Energy Star' tool for seasonal utility savings