High Tech Ways to Save on Home Energy Bills Part 1: A Place in the Sun

First it was a credit and housing crisis, now a Wall Street crisis. Think it’s time to be frugal? Homeowners fretting over high oil, coal, and electricity prices can look skywards for an answer to lowering energy costs: the sun.
(Note: If you are or were an employee of AIG or Merrill Lynch, read the following suggestions extra carefully).

For a long-term energy cost cutting solution with no pollution, noise, or fossil fuels, having solar panels installed on your roof is a smart—and green—choice. There is an initial sizable investment (approximately $10,000 to $30,000* depending primarily on usable area of roof—south facing is best—and level of shading from trees), but a typical solar energy system “will offset roughly thirty-five to seventy-five percent of your electric bill per year,” says Craig P. Harrigan, a Metro Northeast Senior Design Consultant with Akeena Solar in Larchmont.

A less costly and more aesthetically pleasing way to save on energy costs: skylights ($1,300 to $1,800 per skylight). More natural lighting and fewer lamps help to reduce electric bills (as well as eye strain), but they must be efficient—or you’ll lose more heat energy than you save in electricity. Thus make sure your contractor uses super-efficient glazing and frame options—the same kind available in high-quality new windows.
The following companies offer efficient skylights: Bristolite, (800) 854-8618, bristolite.com; Fox Lite, (800) 233-3699, foxlite.com; Royalite, (800) 875-9548, royalite-mfg.com.

An even less costly method (yet still high tech): solar tubing. This product captures sunlight on top of the roof and redirects it indoors down a reflective tube. At the ceiling level, a diffuser spreads the light evenly throughout the room. A 10-inch solar tube kit (approx $179 and available at many hardware stores) lights 100 square feet and is usually used in bathrooms and smaller living areas. There are also 13-inch ($229) and 21-inch ($379) kits, which light 250 and 600 square feet respectively. If you can drill a couple holes in your roof and attic floor, the manufacturer claims you can install this product yourself. But whom are they kidding? If you’re like me when it comes to do-it-yourself home projects, you’d likely end up with what will become known as the Great Squirrel Invasion of ’08. Call a local handyman.

This blog was put together with expert knowledge from: Carolyn Okay, Tash Properties/Vintage Home Restoration (914) 630-4081; cbokay@verizon.net. Also a real estate agent for Sotheby’s International Realty in Larchmont (914) 833-5952

*This installation cost estimate is after rebates from New York State. There is also a state tax deduction of up to $5,000 as well as a federal deduction of up to $2,000 that depends on income qualification (dsireusa.org).