Energy expert offers alternatives for saving time, energy, money
By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
Doing the right thing for the environment once meant tossing newspapers in the recycling bin. It’s not that easy anymore.
Especially in Maryland, where energy costs rose upwards of 72 % in some areas last summer, people are looking for bigger and better—or make that smaller—ways to cut the cost on their pocketbooks and the environment.
A perfect world
From “mini-mansions” to old, drafty houses, living space qualifies as one of the biggest energy culprits.
Ely Jacobsohn, energy efficiency coordinator of the Maryland Energy Administration (www.energy.state.md.us), says you have to consider size, age, and capita of a home when determining energy efficiency.
He says a smaller, older home may waste energy per square foot if it leaks too much air, but if only one or two people live in a 4,000-squarefoot “mini-mansion” it can be inefficient per person.
“In a perfect world, people would live in multi-story, multi-unit buildings, and they could either walk or use public transportation,” Jacobsohn says.
Going green takes work
As an alternative to attempting a “perfect world,” Jacobsohn suggests several ways to make an old home more energy efficient (see details below).
But from sealing and insulating air leaks to redirecting duct work, many of the most effective alternatives require a lot of maintenance.
“Especially for older people, another benefit of going to a smaller home rather than living in a large house is lower maintenance issues. They don’t have to deal as much with any of the upkeep, and there’s a lot less space to heat or cool,” Jacobsohn says.