Home Project Summary

Home Energy Efficiency Upgrade

Ideas, costs, tips and plans - the information you need for a successful Energy Efficiency Upgrade project

February 2011

Homeowners have many important questions about their Energy Efficiency Upgrade Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my Energy Efficiency Upgrade investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?

Costs, materials and best practices for the example Energy Efficiency Upgrade project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.

Use the following information to understand your options, make good decisions and get quality work at a fair price.

Energy Efficiency Upgrade - Project Overview

The approximate costs and value of a typical Energy Efficiency Upgrade project are summarized below. Use higher estimates for larger metropolitan areas and the lower estimates where home prices are below the national average. Adjust costs for substitutions or refinements in the last section. For size differences of up to 25%, scale total costs in direct proportion to the size of your project. Use the adjusted costs as a basis for setting a material budget and for comparing contractor bids (if you choose to have a professional perform the work).

Project description	Improve energy efficiency of existing home. Insulate areas prone to high heat transfer. Minimize air infiltration.
Project size	1700 square foot home
Material and labor cost	$2,313 - $2,699
Material cost	$1,661 - $1,937
Do-it-yourself assessment	The typical Energy Efficiency Upgrade project can be completed by a moderately skilled do-it-yourselfer; as with any project, high quality Energy Efficiency Upgrade requires attention to detail and careful planning.
First year Return on Investment - ROI	Results vary widely and can be affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Energy Efficiency Upgrade project in an appropriate neighborhood can return 93% or more of its initial cost.
Long term Return on Investment - ROI	Results vary widely and can be affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Energy Efficiency Upgrade project in an appropriate neighborhood can return 93% or more of its initial cost.
Green rating	Energy Efficiency Upgrade projects can employ renewable resources and environmentally friendly materials. Existing components can often be recycled or reused. Efficient lighting, insulation and appliances can create a substantial reduction in energy utilization.

Energy Efficiency Upgrade - Proven Ideas and Project Tips

Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your Energy Efficiency Upgrade project plan.

To maximize return on the Energy Efficiency Upgrade project, limit cost to no more than 1.25% of home's total, post project value
Identify and consider construction materials and components that will qualify for tax credits or utility company rebates
For best resale value, select a taste neutral design for your Energy Efficiency Upgrade

Energy Efficiency Upgrade - Project Plan and Details

The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Energy Efficiency Upgrade. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Energy Efficiency Upgrade project. Click any Task name for a complete written specifications, FAQs and quality checklist for the task - this essential information will help you control Energy Efficiency Upgrade project cost and quality.

Task

Service Provider

Duration

Do-it-yourself difficulty

Target cost

Insulate Attic

Insulation Contractor

1 d

Level 2 - Challenging

$0.78 - $1.40 per square foot

Install Wall Insulation

Insulation Contractor