We’re going green. No longer political rhetoric, we are becoming acutely aware that we must be environmentally-responsible to our communities, our country, and our planet. A 2009 US Green Building Council news release* asserted, “The future clearly centers on energy efficiency, water reduction, cleaner indoor air, (and) sustainable environments” while recent LEED** studies indicate that up to 72% of the nation’s electricity consumption comes from…buildings.

Going “green” should reduce operating costs and conserve material resources. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act makes “going green” big news at the personal level. This stimulus bill expands the existing Federal tax credits for energy-efficient capital improvements from 10% to a generous 30%, offered as a Federal Tax Rebate. Oklahoma has received $107 million as their part of the stimulus package, with over $46 million ear-marked for state energy programs. That means there is up to $6,500 available per home for energy efficiency upgrades for a qualified family of four, earning under $44,000 annually.

How do I choose which green improvements to make in my home? Do the cheapest, easiest things first. Fix drafts around your doors, windows, and foundation. Usually, a caulk gun or expandable foam is all that you need. But for the sake of our discussion, let’s focus on two areas of significant impact that may qualify for a 30% rebate from the Federal Government – your attic insulation and your roof.

Insulation is one of those things that everyone seems to know they need, but understand very little about. In the summer, we want to keep our air-conditioned, cool air inside and the sun’s heat out. In the winter, we want our warm living rooms shielded from the wintery temperatures outdoors. Our understanding of this process has to do with thermal insulation, like the rolls of pink stuff in our attics. These Fiberglass or Roc Wool types of insulation are classified as “thermal” for they function much like a blanket. Just like adding more blankets, thicker insulation offers a greater thickness of captured air to act as a thermal insulator, but this solves only part of the problem.

Thermal insulation, since it deals with “capacity” (R-value) can reach a point where it becomes “full”. Picture a sponge held under running water. At some point, water runs right through because the sponge can hold no more. The more R-value you have, the bigger your sponge, but at some point it still saturates. With late-summer heat-waves like we experience in Oklahoma, it won’t take long for even the best thermal insulation to saturate. What then? Once your insulation is “full”, heat begins to pass through to your conditioned space. In fact, the insulation can work against you, as it releases pent-up heat into your home in the evening, even after the outdoor temperatures have dropped!

So, what can be done about these thermal deficiencies? NASA scientists discovered the solution is to reflect away radiant heat, rather than absorb it. They found radiant barrier technology efficiently holds in body warmth in a space suit, and insulates against the extreme radiation of the sun in space. The beauty of radiant barrier technology is it has no capacity limits! It can reflect away heat day-in and day-out without any performance change. Today, the same radiant barrier technology can be found in car shades, lunch bags, and now in our homes.

Radiant barrier film is a lightweight, aluminum-faced material that works with your existing thermal insulation to dramatically increase your home’s energy efficiency. With a single layer over your attic insulation, perforated radiant barrier film can reflect away up to 98% of the radiant energy that was being absorbed by your thermal insulation. Radiant barrier can be installed quickly, with most jobs requiring only a few hours in your attic. This combined thermal/radiant barrier system helps your house act like an insulated vacuum bottle, efficiently holding your heated or cooled air right where you want it -- within the walls of your living space. The insulating properties of the combination of thermal and radiant products can be amazing, with homeowners reporting a 8 – 25% reduction in energy costs. This government-tested product performs so significantly, that it qualifies for the 2009 30% tax rebate program. It may be the best value of any energy improvement you may choose to make!

Another area that significantly impacts your energy bill is your roof. Not everyone is ready to replace their roof right now, but what you know about roofing products will help you make a “green” decision in the future. Many traditional roof materials were developed for their protection and durability, but never were evaluated for their thermal properties or environmental impact. Heat buildup, toxic emissions, flammable properties, lifespan and landfill impact are all huge issues with our “green” mandates.

One of the most eco-friendly solutions is metal roofing. Here’s why: Metal roofing is a 100% recyclable product. New roof panels today very likely contain up to 40% recycled steel, and the same roof panels after a long life-cycle in use, can be 100% recycled into the next useful product. It’s unlikely that metal panels will ever become waste in a landfill. Secondly, today’s panels are treated with a galvanic undercoating, and then painted with advanced finishes like SMP (Siliconized Modified Polyesters) to withstand sunlight and weather for up to 40 years. Even then, metal roofs can be recoated to extend their life-cycle. Metal panels can outlast conventional roofs by as much as four times. A metal panel roof is lightweight, not subject to tear-off, and strong. Even most Oklahoma hailstorms can’t dent or scratch these panels. But the most significant quality of a metal roof with an EnergyStar finish is that it is the most radiant-reflective roofing material available, bar none. An EnergyStar metal roof reflects radiant energy of the sun, rather than absorb it like other roofing materials. The result is a cooler roof and attic space, which means less work for your insulation and your air conditioner. Because of this, EnergyStar-certified metal roofing qualifies for the same 30% tax rebate as other energy-saving improvements! Wide-ranging new colors and textures ensure your new metal roof will comfortably fit in with most neighborhood homes.

Although we’ve explored only insulation and roofing material in this article, there are many more “green” rebate-qualified improvements you can make to your home, and I invite you to explore all you can. The tax benefit program is designed to run through 2010, so now is the time to save. Find a reputable contractor, who can properly advise you and install your energy-efficient products. Even with tax benefits aside, you’ll be glad you did, once you see your dramatically-lower utility bills.

*reference: US Green Building Council document, “Green Building by the Numbers”, March 2009;

Green Building Research, usgbc.org **”Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”