Home Performance with Energy Star

Is your house drafty?

Do you have rooms that are too hot or too cold?

Are your utility bills too high?

Before you start expensive upgrades, consider a systematic approach with Home Performance.

Home Performance with Energy Star is a national program for existing homes designed to help homeowners bring their homes up to Energy Star standards for comfort, safety, health, durability, and energy efficiency. This is a national program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources that is offered to you by Columbia Water & Light.

Average Energy Savings in Columbia is 29%! Several aspects of your home are covered, including the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system, ductwork, insulation, windows and infiltration. These systems are evaluated separately and collectively to show the potential for improved energy efficiency.

Watch a Home Performance video feature online about the improvements made to a newer home in Columbia.

Be a certified Home Performance contractor: upcoming Columbia training dates for BPI

Who can participate?

This program is available to qualified Columbia Water & Light residential electric customers who are remodeling their homes to be more energy efficient. Home Performance program parameters must be followed to qualify for rebates and a Home Performance Loan. Please see the Home Performance Loan program parameters for all the items necessary to qualify.

How do I know if my home would benefit from this program?

To see if this program could help you, complete the Home Energy Yardstick assessment which is listed under the Home Improvement section at www.energystar.gov. If you have a score of 5 or less, your home could benefit from the Home Performance program.

What is an assessment?

Participating local contractors are certified by the Building Performance Institute to evaluate your home using state-of-the-art equipment. Our Home Performance Contractors are trained in a “whole-house” approach of inspecting and testing that allows them to identify and evaluate energy-efficient improvements using recognized building science concepts. The assessment can cost from $250 to $400. If you are approved, you can cover the cost of the assessment with our low interest loan program. Download the list of Certified Home Performance Contractors in our area.

Incentives

Columbia Water & Light is offering qualified electric customers rebates up to $1,200 for home improvements and up to $1,600 for high-efficiency air conditioners or heat pumps. Rebates will be finalized after the Quality Assurance Assessment. Some of the improvements you make could also be eligible for a Federal Tax Credit.

Low interest loans are available for electric customers participating in the Home Performance with Energy Star program. You can get a loan for most of the energy efficiency improvements suggested in the assessment. You can also roll the cost of the assessment into the loan. There are standard insulation requirements in addition to the requirements for each improvement. (click here to download the Super Saver Loan application in a pdf file)

Common recommendations

Sealing Air Leaks and Adding Insulation: Many air leaks in homes are fairly obvious, such as around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. But others, like those in attics, around chimneys, and through recessed lighting fixtures, are often the more significant sources of energy loss in a home. Sealing air leaks is critical to improving the overall efficiency of your home and will make your heating and cooling system perform better. Along with air sealing, your contractor may recommend that you add insulation. Many older homes are not well-insulated, and some have no insulation at all. Properly installed insulation in walls, floors, and attics provides for more even temperatures throughout the house and results in a quieter, more comfortable living environment that is easier to heat and cool.

Sealing Duct Work: Many homes have leaky ductwork and poor air flow, resulting in stuffy and uncomfortable rooms — regardless of the thermostat setting. The home performance contractor may recommend sealing your home’s ducts with mastic, metal tape or spray-on sealant, and balancing the duct system to optimize air flow to all rooms. Insulating ductwork in attics, crawl spaces, and some basements can also help to ensure that your home will be more comfortable.

Improving Heating and Cooling Systems: If your furnace or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, your contractor may recommend that you replace it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency units can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs. But when it comes to heating and cooling equipment, bigger is not always better. A properly-sized unit will make your home more comfortable by providing more consistent temperatures and better humidity control. The contractor should also test combustion equipment, such as your furnace and hot water heater, to ensure that it is operating and venting properly.

Upgrading Lighting and Appliances: Energy used for lighting and appliances can account for half of your home's total utility bill. As a result, the home performance contractor may recommend ENERGY STAR qualified products, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, electronic equipment, light fixtures, and compact fluorescent bulbs. An energy- and water-efficient hot water heating system may also be recommended. Once you have taken steps to increase your home's efficiency, you may also want to consider adding renewable energy systems, such as solar electric (photovoltaic) or solar hot water, to further reduce your utility bills.

Quality Assurance

Columbia Water & Light is responsible for ensuring that participating contractors maintain high standards for quality. We provide specialized training for contractors and we conduct quality assurance inspections to verify that Home Performance with ENERGY STAR projects get done right.

What are the steps of participation?

For more information please see our detailed sheet on the steps for participation

Program policies

Click here to download the Home Performance with Energy Star program policies.