In summer heat, customers want to keep cool over utility bills

Summer in southwest Virginia brings sunshine and heat. And for many, it brings high utility bills.

The summer heat has left many people at the mercy of their air conditioners, as temperatures have climbed past 90 degrees. But turning thermostats down sends electricity bills up. Energy used to power air conditioning units makes up 8 percent of all electricity produced in the U.S., according to data from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The energy that powers these units costs homeowners a combined $15 billion each year, according to the council’s website. Costs peak for homeowners when temperatures do, usually during June, July and August.

So how can you cool down your electric bills?

Turning off the A/C altogether is one option. But Monica Rokicki, co-owner of Better Building Works Energy and Design Consultants, says the best offense against weather conditions outside is a strong defense inside.

Better Building Works is one of several Roanoke-area businesses offering energy auditing services. These companies send teams into clients’ homes to determine where households can improve utility efficiency. They look for flaws like poor air circulation, small gas leaks and out-of-date appliances.

Full energy audits include thermal imaging, moisture monitoring, circulation testing and duct inspection, among other diagnostic tests. Customers usually pay $400 to $500, but discounts based on square footage and household income can help bring prices down. Most energy efficiency companies also offer less expensive, more cursory examinations to address specific concerns.

Roanoke Valley nonprofit cafe2 — pronounced “cafe squared” — offers a free consulting service that identifies basic inefficiencies, like out-of-date water heaters. This service is not as comprehensive as a full energy audit, but it can lead to small improvements for homeowners. Cafe2 also offers a full audit for $250, thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, said Mason Cavell, director of cafe2.

But cafe2 is not a contractor, so it refers customers to groups like Better Building Works, Energy Check and Community Housing Partners: Energy Solutions for any recommended renovations after the initial audit.

Rokicki said Better Building Works offers insulation, sealants and other renovations to help the average client cut energy bills by 20 percent. Energy Check and Community Housing Partners say they provide similar improvements.

But audit customers are not obligated to pay for any recommended renovation.

“If people don’t want to do anything, they can still have a punch list of how to make their home more efficient,” Rokicki said.

Homeowners who don’t want to make the initial investment can still do plenty around the house to cut costs, Rokicki said. Wrapping water heaters in special towels or blankets can keep faucet water hot using less energy.

Adjusting the thermostat by more than two degrees at a time can activate some devices’ emergency power systems, she said. Adjustments made in smaller intervals consume less energy.

And that old refrigerator in the basement chilling beer could be heating up bills.

“Those things are just pure cost. They’re not efficient, usually,” she said.

She also said too many people think windows are the only contributors to drafts in homes. She said unnecessary window replacements, especially on old, custom window frames, can be pricey and ineffective. Small holes in walls and siding are more common culprits found by Better Building Works. Sealing these leaks can make a home more airtight for less money.

“We think of ourselves as more like energy doctors,” Rokicki said. “We want to come up with the best adjustments that have the biggest return on investment.”

Dr. Lennox McNeary of Carilion Clinic first called Better Building Works to insulate a home her family was renting in Old Southwest. She said she was so impressed with the results that she called Better Building Works while her current home was still on the market to address concerns before she moved in.

“The difference in comfort was immediately noticeable,” she said. “I felt that I had a much better understanding of our home once they’d walked me through it.”

Ed Tuchler, owner and manager of Blacksburg’s Energy Check, said efficiency renovations can help improve a home’s overall cleanliness — improvements to duct systems decrease dust buildup and improve air circulation.

“Sealing air ducts can improve the indoor air quality, especially for people with allergies. People with those issues can get fresher, cleaner air,” he said.

Energy auditors and contractors operate on a mostly residential basis, but businesses are starting to take notice. About a third of Rokicki’s clients are building owners in the commercial sector, she said. Two of her recent energy audits included the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts in Amherst.

Tuchler said Energy Check had about 70 clients last year — a “big improvement” from years past. Rokicki said Better Building Works is on pace to double last year’s 65 clients.

Rokicki’s company has done well enough in recent months to begin reinvesting funds back into the community. She announced in July that 10 percent of every Better Building Works energy assessment for the next 12 months will be distributed among several nonprofits: Rebuilding Together Roanoke, Roanoke Foundation for Downtown Inc., Opera Roanoke and the Greater Roanoke Valley Asthma & Air Quality Coalition.

She estimates that each organization will receive $1,000 by the end of the 12-month period.

“We’re not just thinking about energy coming into a building, like a mechanic does a car,” she said. “We realize that we’ve had an amazing amount of support and help from small businesses and companies throughout our process. We want to celebrate that support. And the best way to celebrate, we think, is saying thank you.”

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