Because of high electric bills, homeowners are scrambling to lower their power consumption. Most electric utility companies will send a sales representative to do an energy audit of your home and make suggestions on how to save energy. Key issues in an energy audit involve reviewing home power consumption, as well as appliance and heating or cooling system efficiency. A savvy electrical contractor can provide these same services, and may want to work with other trades, such as HVAC, window and insulation contractors, for major help in similar audits.

Peak and off-peak

Many utility companies have peak and off-peak times for power consumption. Charging your electric vehicle during off-peak times of the day will also save money. A review and possible change of the type of lighting in the home and the lamps used in the luminaires can also reduce energy usage. Adding automatic set-back thermostats for heating and cooling units is useful for reducing power consumption during peak metering times. 

I have had these surveys done periodically and have acted on some of the suggestions that made economic sense to me. You may also want to check with the electric utility company and the local city, state and federal government for available rebates that can offset part of the cost of any home upgrades made based on the audit.

Choosing what to upgrade

I elected to do three major upgrades for our home based on one audit. The first was to add electronic thermostats that can be automatically set back, so the heating and air conditioning don’t operate during peak hours. The second was to add return air ducts from each bedroom into the hallway to make the air conditioning more efficient during the summer months. The third upgrade was to add more attic insulation.

If you still have your original insulation, it may be batting­-type or blown, depending on the type of home construction. Over a period of years, this insulation can become compressed and packed down, so blowing more insulation into an attic area may be the least expensive method of improving the home’s R-value. Insulation contractors are also experienced in totally removing the attic insulation, caulking around recessed luminaires and other similar ceiling penetrations, repairing any leaks in the air conditioning ducts in the attic and then re-insulating the area. I did not feel that was necessary in my case.

Luminaires and insulation

From an electrical point of view, be very careful with insulation upgrades in older homes. Sections 410.116(A) and (B) in the National Electrical Code require clearances from combustible materials for certain types of recessed luminaires and clearances from thermal insulation for certain luminaires.

There are two different types of recessed luminaires: Type IC rated (IC stands for insulated ceiling) and non-Type IC rated. A non-Type IC recessed luminaire is not identified for contact with insulation and must have all recessed parts spaced not less than ½ inch from combustible materials. For a non-Type IC recessed luminaire, the points of support and the trim finishing off the openings in the ceiling, wall or other finished surface are permitted to be in contact with combustible materials. Blowing or placing insulation in and around a non-Type IC recessed luminaire could cause overheating and a possible fire.

A Type IC recessed luminaire is identified for direct contact with insulation and is  permitted to be in contact with combustible materials at recessed parts, points of support and portions passing through or finishing off the opening in the building structure. Unless the recessed luminaire is designed and identified as Type IC for insulation contact, thermal insulation must not be installed above the luminaire or within 3 inches of its enclosure, wiring compartment, ballast, transformer, LED driver or power supply.

Ensure any new insulation blown into the attic is not going to affect the existing luminaires. Older recessed incandescent luminaires, for instance, were required by NEC 410.115(B) to be identified as thermally protected, which is integral to the recessed luminaire. Encapsulating these luminaires in insulation could cause the heat-sensing protective device to intermittently cut power to the lamp, automatically turning it on and off, but still providing protection against overheating. 

Before installing more insulation in an attic, make sure you determine whether Type IC or non-Type IC recessed luminaires are installed.

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