Energy Update
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
 
        For the last couple of years I have included in my weekly electronic newsletter, Virginia e-News (www.kenplum.com to subscribe), suggested actions that individual citizens can take to help stop climate change.  Numerous websites offer suggestions on being environmentally friendly, energy conscious, and conserving.  Not only do I read extensively on these subjects, but I try to put into practice as many of the environmentally friendly ideas as practicable.
 
        A couple of months ago, my wife Jane and I had an energy audit conducted at our house at 2073 Cobblestone Lane in Reston.  While the outcome showed that we had work to do to make our home more energy efficient, we were pleased to know the specifics of what needed to be done.  We chose CGE Solutions, Inc. (www.cgesolutions.com) to do our audit and were very impressed with their professionalism.  For $325 an energy specialist spent more than three hours going through our house including attic spaces that are quite tight.  A blower door - literally a large fan device that covered the front door - exhausted the air from the house in order that air infiltration could be measured.  A heat-sensitive camera photographed the areas of greatest infiltration.  A detailed 14-page report located the areas of greatest air infiltration and provided a home energy rating standard (HERS) score.  My HERS index score was 109, meaning that my house is less energy efficient than the referenced home index of 100.  The cumulative size of all the holes and cracks in the exterior of our house were equal in size to a hole of approximately 1.8 square feet.  The report also detailed what needed to be done to reduce the air infiltration.  All the work of adding insulation, putting foam in cracks, and adding weather stripping I could have done myself, but I chose to spend about a thousand dollars to have the work done for me.  My joints are no longer flexible enough to crawl through the attic.
 
        To save some electricity I cleaned out and unplugged an old, pre-EnergyStar freezer that we had in the basement.  From tightening up the house, cutting off the lights, and unplugging appliances, I believe I will be able to save enough on my current electric bill to enroll in Dominion's Green Power (www.dom.com/VaGreenPower) to purchase renewable energy certificates without additional cost to me.  Renewable energy certificates are 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour added to your electric bill.  Revenues from the certificates help fund the expansion of sources for renewable energy.
 
        Keep the environment in mind as you work around your home this spring.  Scientists now believe that the greatest threat to the future health of the Chesapeake Bay is the run-off from over-fertilized lawns.  Choose phosphate-free fertilizer for your lawn and do not use more than the recommended amount.  Consider leaving some of your land in its native state; the wildlife and the Bay will appreciate it.  Do not use herbicides and other chemicals excessively.
 
        I would be pleased to learn what you are doing in your home to become more energy efficient.  Please write to me at kenplum@aol.com.