PEARLAND Blog

Why Your Home Needs To Meet Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards

A study was conducted by the National Association of Realtors that examined changes in the buying criteria and habits of homebuyers and sellers. The research discovered that buyers are prioritizing energy efficiency more often and have a greater interest in homes that feature environmentally friendly upgrades. In other studies, statistics show that over half of realtors are noticing that buyers are more attracted to listings that promote energy-efficient features. 

All that goes to show that, lately, energy efficiency upgrades need to be at the forefront of home improvement projects for investment-oriented homeowners and potential buyers.

In today's market, energy efficiency upgrades aren't a luxury item in the midst of positive qualities on a home buyer's checklist. Changes are even being implemented by building companies and legislators to develop products and services that include efficiency as a bare minimum instead of a fancy addition. 

Meeting minimum efficiency standards helps improve a community. Take a closer look at how these standards can impact each individual home and environment based on the unique needs of a building.

The Basics: Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)

There are base requirements set by the Department of Energy for “approximately 60 categories of appliances and equipment used in homes, businesses, and other applications, as required by existing law.” These MEES are passed to decrease energy waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants, and cut billions of dollars in energy costs for millions of Americans.

Although you don’t need to be caught up on every detail of the updates that have been in place for decades, start tuning in now to any major changes. Staying up to date with minimum efficiency standards helps you make informed decisions on updating your appliances and materials for better savings. 

An easy recent example of recent changes is lighting recommendations for a building. Incandescent light bulbs can still be found in a home or company building today, but they’re now considered outdated and impractical. CFL or LED bulbs are the new recommendation with longer lifespans, better brightness, and a 70% decrease in energy. 

How To Update Standards

New discoveries in industry research, environmental changes, and higher expectations for production quality are all key reasons why standards and codes are regularly evaluated for updates. 

For example, commercial buildings have two energy efficiency standards that “specify minimum requirements for energy efficiency and are updated in 3-year cycles.” However, MEES for residential buildings and local homes are updated on a necessary basis. This means updates will depend on legislation and the needs of an area in compliance with other building codes or requirements. 

The DOE estimates that the process for collecting, reviewing, and accepting standard updates takes about three years to complete. It’s a four-phase process that includes a framework phase, preliminary analysis phase, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking phase, and final rule phase. There are basic guidelines that start the groundwork for analysis and data collection, used to revise the initial analysis and presented to the public for input and revision suggestions.

It's important to remember that public meetings and comments are a crucial part of this process; this is where you and your household can get involved! The general public is listed as a "stakeholder" who is encouraged to participate in updating standards. The DOE website regularly uploads notices and posts to showcase technical support documents, analytical spreadsheets, and other information that details the impact of potential changes. Taking a closer look at these gives you the opportunity to be a part of the change and learn more about what these updates mean for your home and community. 

Meeting Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards For A Better Home

Why should you pay attention to building energy codes? When code officials report cost-benefit data to your local government and utility departments, the analyses influence savings initiatives, rebate programs, and tax credits. To continuously improve these reports, local programs and companies offer opportunities to earn money back as an incentive to update your home’s appliances or materials in order to bring your building up to the current standard.

In addition to earning money back on energy-efficient purchases, changing materials like insulation and air sealing in your home also improves comfort, safety, and savings. Insulation is a thermal barrier to regulate temperature which reduces drafts, cold spots, and discomfort. The material also reduces the risk of health hazards from poor indoor air quality, humidity, and mold. Regular updates also support ventilation and HVAC systems which decrease their usage and energy waste throughout the year.

Take a closer look at the advantages of insulation and air sealing by reading through Koala Insulation of Pearland’s helpful resources on our blog. 

Why Do You Need To Update Insulation?

When you schedule a regular insulation and air sealing evaluation, your local experts should be looking at more than just national standards and building code requirements. Every building within a region, city, and even on the block will have unique needs that need to be considered. 

Everything from your climate zone to the regular habits of your household is influencing these specialized needs. There are many different insulation materials you can choose from but your Koala Insulation of Pearland professionals personalize the choice based on a number of crucial factors: age of the house, history of damages, room usage, exposure to the sun, and more! 

While an insulation team needs to be well-versed in the energy standards of your local community, they also need to dedicate time to thoroughly investigating your environment. It's about finding a material that will maximize your comfort, safety, and savings opportunities. 

Install Better Material With Your Local Pearland Area Experts

When it comes to home improvement projects, all it takes is a bit of extra research to stretch that bottom dollar. Who knew renovating your space with MEES in mind could improve your return on investment? Koala Insulation did! 

Our insulation professionals are trying to make savings simple by breaking down important standards into simple terms so you and your household can get the most out of your home upgrades. We're dedicated to finding solutions for our community that are both cost-effective and energy-efficient without wasting the time of our neighbors. With a free evaluation, we provide you with details about the current condition of your home's insulation and air sealing - while only targeting the truly important spaces!

Where does your home need improvement? Don’t let insulation fall out of sight and out of mind. Contact your local experts at Koala Insulation of Pearland to schedule your free evaluation today and learn how easy it is to improve your environment on a budget.