THE WORD “GREEN” IS USED A LOT when describing new home construction. Many builders have learned that homeowners want homes that are energy efficient, causing lower impact on the environment. Most homes built today have to comply with myriad energy efficiency criteria set by the government, but what about the older homes in California that do not meet the energy efficiency of new homes? What can be done to improve them? If you are an owner of an older home, you do have options to improve the structure’s energy efficiency. Four things you can do are planting trees, painting using low or no volatile organic compound paints, replacing windows and adding or upgrading insulation.
If you are fortunate enough to have a yard, you may want to think about doing strategic landscaping such as planting trees or shrubs. If one of the sections of your home faces south unobtrusively, you may want to plant a deciduous tree or two to provide shade. A tree will offer shade to a window and keep part of your home cool naturally, helping to keep those air-conditioning bills down. Now that you’ve learned how to cool down the air, let’s talk about a way to clean it up.
According to the EPA, indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air. One of the major causes of indoor pollution are paints and finishes. Over time older paints and finishes release low levels of toxic emissions into the air. The source of these emissions is known as volatile organic compounds or VOC. Today you can buy paints and finishes that contain low or no VOC. Repainting the inside of a dated home with new paints can help keep you from toxic exposure. Having clean air inside your home is important and so is finding a way to trap it to keep energy bills low.
In Southern California, many older homes have single pane windows. Windows are a leading cause for heating and cooling loss in a home. The energy efficiency of windows is determined by their U or R-values. According to the Department of Energy, manufacturers usually represent the energy efficiency of windows in terms of their U-values (conductance of heat) or their R-values (resistance to heat flow). If a window’s R-value is high, it will lose less heat than one with a lower R-value. If a window’s U-value is low, it will lose less heat than one with a higher U-value. U-values are the reciprocals of R-values. Most window manufacturers use R-values in rating their windows. In general, the higher the number of panes or layers of glass a window has the more energy efficient it will be. For example, a double pane window will be more energy efficient than a single pane window. Windows provide one barrier against energy loss and insulation provides another.
Insulation may not be the most exciting purchase for your home, but it is one of the best investments. Quality insulation is worth its weight in gold. Insulation can be blown in between walls or laid out. Most people are familiar with batting insulation, which comes in pink or yellow sheets and is typically made of fiberglass. Placing new insulation, especially in ceilings and roofs, will help lower utilities bills. Lower utility bills easily compensates for the cost of new insulation, sometimes within a year. One thing to remember when insulating a home is to place foam or rubber insulation around switches and outlets. These areas can lead to a huge loss in energy efficiency.
If you have an older home you can make it more energy efficient. It may take a little bit of elbow grease or hiring the right person for the job, but planting trees, interior repainting, replacing windows and improving insulation are all excellent ways to increase the efficiency and value of an older home. Most costs are recouped after a few years with the reduction in utility bills, saving both the environment and your checkbook.
MIKE HEAYN is a Washington Mutual Multi- Family Loan Consultant. He 310-428-1342, or e-mailed at
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 9, 2007. Read the original PDF.