1636-11 Outdoor Living v2.ai

Remodeling
Guide
Powering forward. Together.
Energy Efficient Outdoor Living Remodel
Renovations Volume 8, 2012
inside ...
Good place ............... 2
to start
Home performance ... 2
contractor
Windows.................... 2
lighting, electrical
Appliances................. 2
equipment, landscaping
Rebates...................... 3
Financing
Remodeling ............... 3
resources
A Great Opportunity to Save Money
One of the things we all love about Sacramento is our ability to enjoy the outdoors almost
year-round. And a great way to do that is to include outdoor living spaces in your home.
Imagine sitting under a covered porch or patio in the early evening; not only will it shade
you, but it’ll shade your home and reduce your cooling costs as well. A thoughtful landscaping
plan can provide shade in the summer and allow the warming sun into your home
in the winter. And native and drought tolerant plants and drip irrigation systems can
conserve water. If you’re going to make a big improvement, like a pool or spa, you’ll
definitely want to incorporate energy efficient elements into your plan, and we’re here to
help.
Our backyards are extensions of our homes and improvements to it can increase our
home’s value and provide enjoyment for our family and friends. If you’re going to improve
your outdoor space, we’d like to help you understand how this remodel gives you an
opportunity to save money on your energy bills. If you’re going to invest in this remodel,
why not make sure your home can pay some of that investment back month after month?
By making sure your home is performing at its optimum energy efficiency level before
you remodel, you’ll save money on your energy bill long after your remodel is complete.
A solid plan can make all the difference to how much you increase your home’s performance
as well as the size of your budget and stress level, and your satisfaction with the
finished project. Here are a few things to think about up front:
• Consider a few whole-home improvements that can really increase its overall energy
efficiency, like improving your home’s envelope with an effective air barrier or
increased attic insulation.
• Only use ENERGY STAR® windows and appliances for replacement.
• If you’ll be opening up or adding new walls, make sure to increase insulation to
minimum R-15.
• Are you wasting hundreds of gallons of water because it takes forever to get hot
water to your sinks? If so, consider a hot-water circulation option and a tankless hot
water heater.
• Think behind the walls when planning your project. New fixtures, lighting or appliances
may require new plumbing or electrical wiring.
• Windows are beautiful but can really add to your heating and cooling costs, so be
thoughtful about window and skylight placement, making sure not to add too many.
Be careful about lots of windows on east or west walls as they can overheat rooms in
the summer. You’ll want to place the right type of window or skylight in the right
place for the best views, ventilation and energy performance. Your contractor or a
window specialist can help you.
• If you need to move or improve your plumbing, locate plumbing runs in interior rather
than in exterior walls to save energy and deliver hot water faster.
• Proper, professional lighting design can beautify your living space, provide the right
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Energy efficient outdoor living remodel
A good place to start
Renovations Volume 8, 2012
pg 2 of 3
amount of task lighting and save energy. Try to limit recessed can lights and use only
insulated rated recessed can fixtures if needed.
• Install awnings or other exterior window shading systems on south windows.
A Good Place to Start
The first step in an energy efficient remodel is assessing the energy performance of your
home. That way you’ll have a better idea of which new products and features will give you
the best bang for your energy buck.
Home performance contractor – Following standards set by the Building Performance
Institute, the Home Performance contractor has extensive training in building science and
technology and will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your home’s energy
systems. They’ll examine the overall conditions of your systems and provide you with a
customized report including upgrade recommendations and a quote to complete the
work. Choose your contractor at www.smud.org/homeperformance to schedule your
assessment today.
. . . power strips
can help prevent
“phantom loads”. . .
Our experts study all of the leading energy-efficient technologies and determine which
are best for homeowners to utilize for maximum performance and savings. We’ve outlined
their recommendations below. Remember, the more you do, the more you can save.
Windows
• Install retractable, controllable awnings over windows and patio areas, especially
south facing areas. There are awnings that will automatically open or retract based
upon the sun’s intensity and movement.
Lighting and Electrical
• Install ENERGY STAR® CFL or LED lighting fixtures at porches and entries and have
them on motion-sensor controls or timers.
• Lighting your landscaping certainly makes it look beautiful at night, but make sure to
use solar powered landscape lighting.
• Whenever outdoor equipment is plugged into an outlet, it’s using electricity, even if
it’s turned off. Plug your equipment into power strips and turn off the power strips
when not in use. This prevents what we call “phantom loads.”
Appliances (If installing an outdoor kitchen)
• Only purchase appliances, like refrigerators and dishwashers, that are ENERGY
STAR® certified.
• Make sure any appliances you install are well shaded and ventilated.
Equipment
• Choose an energy-efficient hot tub and make sure to keep it covered.
• Install an ENERGY STAR® outdoor ceiling fan.
• Pools can really increase your energy bill. Maximize your savings by maintaining your
pool temperature between 78°F- 82°F and utilizing a solar water heating system to
heat your pool. Install a high efficiency multi-speed pool pump with a timer and only
operate your pool pump during off peak hours before 4:00 p.m. or after 7:00 p.m.
Make sure you use a pool cover to reduce pool heat loss.
Landscaping
• Plant shade trees and other vegetative shading to maximize shading during our hot
summers and heat from the sun during our winters. Definitely take advantage of our
Shade Tree program that provides free shade trees to our customers. Visit
smud.org/shadetrees for more information.

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Energy efficient outdoor living remodel
Renovations Volume 8, 2012
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To learn more about
energy-efficiency
renovations visit
smud.org for other
SMUD Remodeling
guides.
Remodeling
Guide
Powering forward. Together.
Remodeling
Guide
Powering forward. Together.
Remodeling
Guide
Powering forward. Together.
Roofing
Renovations Volume 9, 2012
Outdoor Living
Renovations Volume 8, 2012
Living Room - Office Remodel
Renovations Volume 7, 2012
Rebates
Rebates are also available for select appliances. Be sure to check out all of our rebate
programs before you start your remodeling project at smud.org/rebates.
You’ll also want to visit your gas provider’s website for information on rebates for gas
appliances and attic and wall insulation.
Electric (kWh) Savings ** SMUD Rebate+
15-19% $ 500
20-24% $1,000
25-29% $1,500
30-34% $2,000
35-39% $2,500
40-44% $3,000
45-49% $3,500
50+% $4,000
Remodeling
Guide
Powering forward. Together.
Remodeling
Guide
Powering forward. Together.
Kitchen Remodel
Renovations Volume 6, 2012
Gut Rehab
Renovations Volume 5, 2012
** Savings and rebate potential + Combined rebate from SMUD and your local gas utility
Financing
In addition to rebates, we also offer financing for some energy efficient home improvements
at a fixed interest rate, which can help you get the most out of your remodel
project. For the current interest rates, call 916-732-5472 or visit smud.org/rebates.
Remodeling
Guide
Powering forward. Together.
Remodeling
Guide
Powering forward. Together.
Energy Efficiency Remodel
Renovations Volume 4, 2012
Basement & Crawl Space Remodel
Renovations Volume 3, 2012
Financing is available for:
Central air-conditioning systems
Attic and wall insulation
Solar water heating systems
Windows
Heat pumps
Remodeling
Guide
Powering forward. Together.
Remodeling
Guide
Powering forward. Together.
inside ...
Good place ............... 2
to start
Home energy............. 2
contractor assessment
Independent ............. 2
home energy rating
Planning your ............ 2
foundation
Building envelope...... 3
walls, ceiling, windows
Air seal....................... 3
Passive solar savings
Basements ................. 3
Crawlspaces
Rebates...................... 4
Tax credits.................. 5
Financing
Remodeling guides.... 5
One kitchen study..... 5
Bathroom Remodel
Renovations Volume 2, 2012
Energy Efficiency Major Addition
Renovations Volume 1, 2012
A great opportunity to save money
If your family needs more living space, but you love your home and don’t want to purchase
a new one, then you might consider adding additional square footage where you are now.
The best piece of advice we can give when planning a major addition to your home is just
that – PLAN. Proper planning will ensure your addition meets your needs and can save you
money and stress.
While this major remodel can give you your new dream home, do you realize that it also
gives you an opportunity to save money on your energy bills? If you’re going to invest in
this remodel, why not make sure your home can pay some of that investment back month
after month? By making sure your home is performing at its optimum energy efficiency
level before you remodel, you’ll save money on your energy bill long after your remodel is
complete.
We’ve been partnering with homeowners for more than 60 years to help increase their
home’s performance, and we’re here today to show you how easy it is to incorporate
energy efficiency elements into your kitchen remodel project through our Home
Performance Program. You can find all of the details at smud.org/home performance.
A solid plan can make all the difference to how much you increase your home’s
performance as well as the size of your budget and stress level, and your satisfaction with
the finished project. Here are a few things to think about up front:
• Consider whole-home improvements that can really increase its overall energy
efficiency, like improving your home’s envelope with an effective air barrier or
increased attic insulation (minimum R-38).
• Only use ENERGY STAR ® windows and appliances for replacement.
• If you’ll be opening up or adding new walls, make sure to increase insulation to
minimum R-15.
• Are you wasting hundreds of gallons of water because it takes forever to get hot water
to your kitchen sink? If so, consider a hot-water circulation option and a tankless hot
water heater.
• Think behind the walls when planning your project. New fixtures, lighting or appliances
may require new plumbing or electrical wiring, especially if your kitchen is more than
ten years old.
• Windows are beautiful but can really add to your heating and cooling costs, so be
thoughtful about window and skylight placement, making sure not to add too many.
Be careful about lots of windows on east or west walls as they can overheat rooms in
the summer. You’ll want to place the right type of window or skylight in the right place
for the best views, ventilation and energy performance. Your contractor or a window
specialist can help you.
• If you need to move or improve your plumbing, locate plumbing runs in interior rather
than in exterior walls to save energy and deliver hot water faster.
• Proper, professional lighting design can beautify your kitchen, provide the right
amount of task lighting and save energy. Try to limit recessed can lights and use only
insulated rated recessed can fixtures if needed.
Remodeling resources
There are many free tools available to help educate yourself on remodeling before you
commit to your project. Check out the following resources.
Building Science Corporation (BSC) Energy Upgrade Californian
buildingscience.com/
energyupgradeca.org/overview
Green Building Advisor
Green Building Pages
greenbuildingadvisor.com/
greenbuildingpages.com/main.html
Green Home Guide
greenhomeguide.com/
REGREEN: A SI D & USGBC Residential Remodeling Guidelines Second Edition
regreenprogram.org
Powering forward.
Together.
* Rebate levels are subject to change at any time and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Rebates are for a limited time. For complete information, visit smud.org/rebates