By Dan Copeland, JEA
A Realtor has a unique opportunity to become a valuable resource to new-home buyers and builders.
By learning about the three common energy-efficiency options available to new home shoppers, Realtors can help their customers make the best decisions for the most expensive purchase of their life.
Radiant barriers, high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment and heat pump water heaters are three items that every new home buyer should consider.
Not all Jacksonville builders install radiant barriers, so ask your builder about the option. A radiant barrier is a thin layer of reflective metal laminated to the roof decking.
It helps reduce the temperature in the attic, which in turn keeps the duct work cooler ultimately reducing the home’s cooling costs. Cooling is the largest part of most electricity bills in the Jacksonville area. A radiant barrier upgrade to an existing home is difficult to justify due to higher costs. However, in new construction it takes no additional time to install and the upgrade cost is usually less than $1,000 per home.
For heating and cooling systems, a SEER rating is a measure of overall efficiency. The building code currently requires a minimum of SEER 13. In January 2015 that minimum increases to SEER 14. Upgrade costs vary depending on SEER rating and system size but typically range between $1,000 and $3,000 per system.
Remembering that cooling is the largest part of the electricity bill, it makes sense to consider a high-efficiency HVAC upgrade since the system should last at least 10 years.
Several Jacksonville builders already are installing heat pump water heaters standard in their homes. A heat pump water heater looks similar to a conventional electric water heater with one difference –a small air-conditioning unit on top of it.
Instead of removing heat from the air inside the house and transferring it outside, it removes heat from the air in your garage and transfers it into your water heater tank.
When operating in the most efficient mode, this type water heater can boast efficiency factors nearly three times a conventional electric water heater. Water heating is typically the second largest portion of an electricity bill in the Jacksonville area. A heat pump water heater is easily installed into a new construction home, and upgrade costs should be less than $2,000.
These three common energy efficiency upgrades have proven to be effective at reducing electricity consumption in Jacksonville homes.
Local builders may offer upgrade options individually, offer upgrade packages or install energy efficiency upgrades only if the homebuyer requests them. Realtors who work with buyers and builders to inquire about the specifics of energy-efficiency options provide a valuable service.
The easiest and most cost-effective time to install energy-efficiency upgrades is during initial construction. While homebuyers select countertops or tile options, Realtors can help them save money over the long haul by showing them the advantages of investing in energy efficiency today.
Dan Copeland is JEA’s customer solutions field representative and a member of NEFBA’s E-Council. Contact him at [email protected], and visit jea.com/green for more energy-efficiency tips.