How to save the most home heating or cooling energy for the least retrofit cost:

This article explains the basic priorities of steps to take in reducing building heating or cooling costs to obtain the maximum economic return when installing solar heating systems.

How to Maximize the Return on Energy Savings Retrofits & Solar Energy Systems

Balancing Act - how to get the most return on energy efficiency investments

[Click to enlarge any image]

Our photo (above left) shows a building insulation retrofit project in process where the owner was removing the original brick wall lining to install building insulation. Details of that project are at BRICK LINED WALLS.

Compare BTU/hour value for old leaky wood frame house vs. adding Solar Energy System

I understand the importance of insulating a house before installing any solar space heating system.

See INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT.

How low a Btu/hour value should I attain in a 60-year old, leaky, wood frame house before solarizing?

The house is 1900 square feet, has oil / hot water heat, and is located in Maryland (4000 heating degree days).

Also, how should the basement be insulated - around its perimeter or under the first floor?- reader question

Answer:

Above: photovoltaic panels on a Maine rooftop.

See PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS for details.

If you want to get the largest return on your investment in building energy efficiency, you should balance your expenditures on

• energy conservation
• solar energy
• auxiliary equipment

so that your economic return is equal for each.

Whatever analysis you use to make economic decisions

• Simple payback calculation on energy savings projects - how many years until the energy savings pays back the cost of the energy improvement
• Life-cycle costing calculation on energy savings projects - adds consideration of the costs of maintenance, repair, replacement of the energy improvement
• Return on investment calculation on energy savings projects - adds consideration of the alternative rate of return if the money spent on energy improvement were invested elsewhere

you should apply the method fairly to each part of the house. How much you want to spend in total will depend on what return on your money you find acceptable.

Law of Diminishing Returns on Energy Savings Investments

Above: thermal tracking on the surface of an exterior wall can indicate areas of building heat loss.

See THERMAL TRACKING REMEDIES for details.

In general, the first dollars invested in energy savings will bring larger returns than later dollars due to the law of diminishing returns.

See ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES for details.

To be fair, you should apply your cost accounting only to the energy cost of a building part, if it serves another function (for example a window decoration, structure, or added living space).

In the case of an upgraded heating system, you should consider the added cost over the conventional equipment that you would otherwise install. There is a good deal of fudging and judgment in all this and plenty of room for common sense.

Placement of Basement Insulation

As for basement insulation, either approach will work. Of course, if you want a heated basement you should insulate the perimeter. Also, if you insulate the floor above the basement, you increase the risk of freezing pipes in the basement.

If the basement is mostly below grade and has no leaky doors and windows, this shouldn't be a problem in your climate.

See INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT for detailed suggestions about basement insulation.

Also see INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT.

The question-and-answer article about energy savings investment strategy when adding solar heat, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.

Original article

The link to the original Q&A article in PDF form immediately below is preceded above by an expanded/updated online version of this article.

• Q&A on Balancing Act [PDF] how to get the largest return on investment in energy efficiency - PDF version, Use your browser's back button to return to this page

The question-and-answer article below paraphrases, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.

Our page top photograph shows solar panels, both photovoltaic and domestic hot water heating systems, on a rooftop in Surprise, Arizona. The accompanying text is reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

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Continue reading at ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS - home
• ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES

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ENERGY SAVINGS MAXIMIZE RETURNS ON at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING ENERGY SAVINGS

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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