As energy costs continue to climb and the environmental impact of our
usage becomes more and more evident, there is perhaps no better time
then the present to reconsider how much energy we use in our homes, and
how much energy we could be saving with just a few simple upgrades.
Dan Gibson, owner of Home Energy Advisors LLC, started his business nearly three years ago to help home owners find practical and affordable ways to conserve energy and to reduce their utility bill significantly.
"For about 25 years I was primarily involved with manufacturing software, but about four years ago I learned about 'peak oil,'" Gibson said.
'Peak oil' is a concept which explains that the world's oil is finite, and as we continue to use oil to power our homes, cars and other appliances, the price will rise exponentially as supplies become more and more scarce, ultimately expiring.
"I decided that I wanted my day job to actually be related to conserving energy and helping people save energy," Gibson said.
When Gibson first began providing his services to customers in the Capital and Saratoga regions, most of the phone calls he received were from people looking for a way to decrease their carbon footprint and help the environment. But as the economy began to spiral downwards and energy costs began to rise, all that began to change.
"The first year I was doing this people who called me were interested in doing something for the environment. The second year most people were interested in saving money because they really couldn't afford to stay warm," Gibson said.
Whatever the reasons, whether they be environmental or financial, finding ways to save energy is hugely beneficial for those who take advantage of Gibson's services.
"As energy costs increase, more and more of our disposable income will be eroded in energy payments. Energy costs permeate so many things, not just home heating and driving, but also food and materials. Ultimately, if we don't reduce our energy use, we'll turn into a poor nation. It's an invisible tax," Gibson said. "Most of the houses I visit can save anywhere from a quarter to 40 or 50 percent on their energy bill. It's huge."
To help home and business owners determine how they can best save on their energy bills and reduce their consumption, Gibson uses a multi-stepped approach to assess the building and advise the owner on the most effective measures to take.
"I divide the audit into two parts," Gibson said. "Basically I go through the entire house and investigate it. I investigate their heating system, their insulation and I do a variety of tests. At the end of that visit I'm able to give them a list of a dozen different areas where they may or may not have opportunities to improve and save money. That's the first step."
After Gibson calculates potential savings, the next step is to determine the owner's eligibility for a new initiative being offered by the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, or NYSERDA. Currently NYSERDA is offering two different programs for people looking to upgrade their homes and make them more energy efficient.
"The assisted program is an income eligible program, and it's just remarkable how many people aren't aware of it," Gibson said. "It's geared towards people who have an income of about 80 percent of the state median or less, about $60,000 for a family of four in Saratoga County. They would be eligible to receive a grant from NYSERDA for 50 percent of the work up to $10,000 for upgrades. If you look at most houses, especially a house that's been neglected from an energy perspective, $10,000 can do a lot. It's a great program."
The second program being offered by NYSERDA is a bit more wide open in terms of eligibility.
"The standard program for people of all incomes covers 10 percent of expenses," Gibson said. "So what happens is if you do $20,000 worth of work on your house, you get $2,000 back from NYSERDA after the work is done. The program goes up to $30,000."
Once customers have enough information to decide whether or not they'd like to take advantage of the NYSERDA programs, Gibson creates a computer model of their home, where he is able to calculate how much energy a home currently uses, and how much energy the home will be able to save after upgrades.
"The next step," Gibson said, "is to get a rough estimate for all the different improvements they're considering. You input each one of those improvements, and the program considers them individually and says how much they'll save."
If customers decide that they would like to proceed in part or in full with the recommendations Gibson provides them, Gibson helps them to find a reputable contractor to see that the work is completed.
"I do recommend contractors, because finding a good contractor can be very difficult. But I don't hold people hostage to the audit, so-to-speak," Gibson said. "If the homeowner is not comfortabe with the contractor I recommend, he can use any BPI accredited contractor and I'll coordinate the project through the Home Performance program. That way, I'm primarily providing advice and direction, not trying to sell them a particular solution."
For those interested in learning more about Home Energy Advisors LLC and the services Dan Gibson provides, you are encouraged to visit him on the Web at www.homeenergyadvisors.com.
For larger groups, Gibson can also be booked to provide educational seminars where he discusses a dozen different steps homeowners can comfortably take on their own to reduce their energy consumption. For more information, you may contact Gibson by phone at (518) 899-2400, or at his email address at DanG@homeenergyadvisors.com.
"For about 25 years I was primarily involved with manufacturing software, but about four years ago I learned about 'peak oil,'" Gibson said.
'Peak oil' is a concept which explains that the world's oil is finite, and as we continue to use oil to power our homes, cars and other appliances, the price will rise exponentially as supplies become more and more scarce, ultimately expiring.
"I decided that I wanted my day job to actually be related to conserving energy and helping people save energy," Gibson said.
When Gibson first began providing his services to customers in the Capital and Saratoga regions, most of the phone calls he received were from people looking for a way to decrease their carbon footprint and help the environment. But as the economy began to spiral downwards and energy costs began to rise, all that began to change.
"The first year I was doing this people who called me were interested in doing something for the environment. The second year most people were interested in saving money because they really couldn't afford to stay warm," Gibson said.
Whatever the reasons, whether they be environmental or financial, finding ways to save energy is hugely beneficial for those who take advantage of Gibson's services.
"As energy costs increase, more and more of our disposable income will be eroded in energy payments. Energy costs permeate so many things, not just home heating and driving, but also food and materials. Ultimately, if we don't reduce our energy use, we'll turn into a poor nation. It's an invisible tax," Gibson said. "Most of the houses I visit can save anywhere from a quarter to 40 or 50 percent on their energy bill. It's huge."
To help home and business owners determine how they can best save on their energy bills and reduce their consumption, Gibson uses a multi-stepped approach to assess the building and advise the owner on the most effective measures to take.
"I divide the audit into two parts," Gibson said. "Basically I go through the entire house and investigate it. I investigate their heating system, their insulation and I do a variety of tests. At the end of that visit I'm able to give them a list of a dozen different areas where they may or may not have opportunities to improve and save money. That's the first step."
After Gibson calculates potential savings, the next step is to determine the owner's eligibility for a new initiative being offered by the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, or NYSERDA. Currently NYSERDA is offering two different programs for people looking to upgrade their homes and make them more energy efficient.
"The assisted program is an income eligible program, and it's just remarkable how many people aren't aware of it," Gibson said. "It's geared towards people who have an income of about 80 percent of the state median or less, about $60,000 for a family of four in Saratoga County. They would be eligible to receive a grant from NYSERDA for 50 percent of the work up to $10,000 for upgrades. If you look at most houses, especially a house that's been neglected from an energy perspective, $10,000 can do a lot. It's a great program."
The second program being offered by NYSERDA is a bit more wide open in terms of eligibility.
"The standard program for people of all incomes covers 10 percent of expenses," Gibson said. "So what happens is if you do $20,000 worth of work on your house, you get $2,000 back from NYSERDA after the work is done. The program goes up to $30,000."
Once customers have enough information to decide whether or not they'd like to take advantage of the NYSERDA programs, Gibson creates a computer model of their home, where he is able to calculate how much energy a home currently uses, and how much energy the home will be able to save after upgrades.
"The next step," Gibson said, "is to get a rough estimate for all the different improvements they're considering. You input each one of those improvements, and the program considers them individually and says how much they'll save."
If customers decide that they would like to proceed in part or in full with the recommendations Gibson provides them, Gibson helps them to find a reputable contractor to see that the work is completed.
"I do recommend contractors, because finding a good contractor can be very difficult. But I don't hold people hostage to the audit, so-to-speak," Gibson said. "If the homeowner is not comfortabe with the contractor I recommend, he can use any BPI accredited contractor and I'll coordinate the project through the Home Performance program. That way, I'm primarily providing advice and direction, not trying to sell them a particular solution."
For those interested in learning more about Home Energy Advisors LLC and the services Dan Gibson provides, you are encouraged to visit him on the Web at www.homeenergyadvisors.com.
For larger groups, Gibson can also be booked to provide educational seminars where he discusses a dozen different steps homeowners can comfortably take on their own to reduce their energy consumption. For more information, you may contact Gibson by phone at (518) 899-2400, or at his email address at DanG@homeenergyadvisors.com.
Main Menu
Leave a comment