Hot Numbers for Heat Loss

Reducing energy consumption is a key interest of ours and our clients.  Our latest exciting heat loss calculation, for a local 2800 SF residence, shows that the home will be using less than 600 gallons of propane gas per year translating roughly into annual heating bills of less than $1,600 per year!

With homes currently consuming approximately 20% of the energy consumed in the U.S. and generating about 20% of the CO2 emissions in the U.S., we are very interested in designing energy-efficient houses.  The benefits of a high-performing home are clear: the more airtight, better sealed, and well-insulated it is, and the lower the u-values of its fenestration, the less energy and fewer greenbacks it consumes.

In the northeast, about 60% of a home's energy consumption is due to heating, so we are focused on heat loss calculations which tell us a lot of information, but in particular what the yearly heat loss is for a home.  Once we've have a baseline for annual heat loss, we can then determine which measures can be taken to further reduce heat loss and energy consumption in the home, while preserving and enhancing the client's design goals.

As the aforementioned residential project is still in progress, there may be additional opportunities to further reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the home.  We will be sure to post updated results!