AUSTIN ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
Saving Money and Energy

With improvements in weatherization and insulation, Austin homes can help the planet and your wallet!

We at QLS Services are ResNet certified to determine the efficiency of your whole home - not just your air comfort system. Although air conditioning efficiency is important when you're buying a new unit, it won't do you much good if 30% of the air is leaking into a hot attic that is under-insulated. The difference in air pressure has to be equalized, which your house does by pulling hot, dusty outside air in through cracks in doors, windows, electrical boxes and plumbing penetrations. With the long, hot summers in Austin, energy efficiency is a serious concern for most of our clients.

By following Department of Energy guidelines which have been adopted by Austin Energy and Oncor we look at everything in your home from wall to wall and from floor to ceiling. We recommend that all work should only be considered complete after passing necessary home and system performance testing. It costs a little extra, but what good is testing if it's not going to be graded? Remember that we can not see everything in your home, and without testing we may not catch gross deficiencies.

Interested in improving your home or business to be more energy efficient? Want to qualify for the City of Austin Energy Rebates? There's more to it than better windows and weatherization. Here's what we recommend for improving energy usage, lowering your bills, and making sure your home is doing everything it can to run efficiently:

Austin Energy Efficiency, Roof to Floor

• When choosing a roof color, the lighter the better as it will reflect the most light and heat.
• Really want to reduce the heat seeping into your home during summer in Austin? Radiant Barrier can easily be sprayed on and drops attic temperatures considerably by essentially shading your home.
• Attic insulation should be 14-16 inches deep and provide R-38 or have the equivalent. Insulating spray foam should also be sprayed under the roof deck. In Austin, insulation makes an enormous difference in combating heat, lowering bills, and making the home more comfortable year-round.
• Ducts must be properly sized and sealed at every seam and connection, all the way down to the sheetrock. R-8 is the current insulation standard for all types of ductwork. If at all possible ducts should not be in the attic but in the conditioned space.
• Make sure that all back draft dampers on your exhaust fans, stove vent, and chimney flue are closing properly and completely.
• Grills should also be caulked in the underside to the ceiling
• All bulbs should be compact florescent or LED
• Concrete floors are sufficient in the hot Texas climate and do not need additional insulation.
• Pier and beam homes should be insulated, and spray foam is recommended for long lasting durability.

Wall to Wall, Austin Weatherization

• Solar screens should be on all south, east, and western exposures.
• All doors and windows should be properly weather stripped to prevent leakage.
• Plugs and light switches should be sealed with caulk or foam gasket.
• If your home comfort system is more than 8 years old you should consider upgrading to a 16 SEER/13 EER or greater efficient system.
• Windows should be energy efficient double pane low-E variety, displaying the Energy Star logo.
• Get that extra refrigerator/freezer out of the garage.