ENERGY DEMONSTRATION HOUSE IN SANTEE SAVED 49.9% ON ENERGY COSTS
Photo by Erik Hauenstein
November 6, 2013 (San Diego) – An “Energy Demonstration House” featured on the San Diego Sustainability Tour in September has generated 49.9% in energy savings for the homeowners. This ‘Clark Kent’ of households was transformed into an energy super-hero to showcase the simply things homeowners can do to slash energy costs and live more comfortably and sustainably – and how to use it using other people’s money.
It may not be as sexy as solar, but for every $1 saved on energy efficiency, folks save $3 on the cost of a solar solution. It’s a ‘reduce before you produce’ philosophy that compelled the San Diego Renewable Energy Society to rename its annual solar tour to the sustainability tour – it’s the former solar tour – but with more *energy* options. Supervisor Dianne Jacob and energy expert Ken Justo of ASI Hastings were on hand as homeowners, smacked with higher utility bills due to a recent SDG&E rate hike, toured this and other properties.
Improvements include whole house air and attic sealing (why pay to heat and cool the great outdoors?), LED lighting and fixtures, Energy Efficiency appliances, high efficiency heating and AC, attic sealing and insulation, duct replacement, wall insulation, vinyl dual-paned windows and doors, fans, programmable thermostat, and, a solar PV system with microinverter technology.