2012 is really shaping up to be the year of the duct – air duct that is. Starting on the very first day of 2012, the updated Energy Star 3.0 specifications for the home takes full effect and that means any builder looking to receive Energy Star certification for their constructions will have to meet the more stringent requirements. A big part of these requirements includes lower duct leakage rates.
And that’s good news for anyone looking to save on their home energy utility bill.
For the past several years, the U.S. Department of Energy, along with the EPA and others have been focusing an increasing amount of attention on the role that leaky air ducts play in wasted home energy. While most home owners think of replacing their windows or upgrading their furnace, few consider sealing air ducts as a substantial energy saving consideration. As it turns out, it is one of the most significant things you can do to reduce home energy waste.
According to recent reports from industry analysts such as
McKinsey and Company, air duct sealing can be twice as effective at saving energy as upgrading windows – about five times more effective than insulating. The DOE
recently cited statistics that claim U.S. home owners can save on average, $600 to $850 each year on their home energy bill by simply having their homes’ air ducts adequately sealed – that’s a total savings of $5 billion annually for Americans nationwide.
And while this is good news for home owners, it’s even better for HVAC pros trained and licensed to provide Aeroseal service. In most cases, it is simply going to be impossible to receive the coveted Energy Star certification for a new home construction without the help of this breakthrough technology. Tape and mastic is simply not good enough.
Aeroseal has been around for a few years but has yet to hit the mainstream radar of consumers and home builders alike. With the help of Energy Star 3.0 and a new company devoted solely to the sale and service of Aeroseal technology this is about to change. For green builders and those looking to save on their home energy bill, the significant role that duct sealing can play in home energy conservation is about to take center stage – and 2012 is shaping up to be the year of the duct.
