Buyer Beware

Q: I’ve been seeing ads for products and services that will apparently help me save on my energy bills. Are these legit? Are there any that I should be wary of?

A: Our On the House column generally focuses on tools and strategies that can improve homes and lives, whether it be through savings, comfort or convenience. But it’s also worth discussing offers that may be too good to be true or that at least require additional consideration. Here are several.

Household Power Savers/Electricity-Saving Boxes

We’ll start with a genuinely bogus example: There are “black-box” devices that claim to save energy just by being plugged into a wall. They use scientific-sounding marketing language to state that they can cut your energy bill by 30%, 40% — in some cases even 90%. From our testing and research, they don’t appear to do anything at all.

Insulating Exterior Paint

What if your home’s exterior paint could help you save energy? That’s the idea behind insulating paint, sometimes referred to as radiant barrier paint (not to be confused with other radiant barriers used in attics) — that it can reflect enough heat that your cooling system won’t need to work as hard. The technology was originally invented by NASA to protect its space shuttles. The commercialized paint versions are still relatively young, but most of the research to date suggests that they don’t live up to the hype.

Duct Cleaning

It makes sense to want to keep the ducts of your heating and cooling system clean — cleaner ducts = cleaner air to breathe. Unfortunately, there can be many reasons this service doesn’t pan out as hoped.

In fact, if not done properly and carefully, it can 1) damage or rip open ducts, allowing conditioned air to leak out or dust and contaminants to leak in, and 2) dislodge or pull apart duct materials that can become airborne and breathable.

When metal ductwork with insulation on the outside is used, duct cleaning can be valuable, so long as the joints and connections are sealed to Energy Star^® standards when complete. Without air sealing after duct cleaning, the problem will keep coming back.

General Energy Efficiency Improvements

Energy efficiency improvements, many of which we’ve discussed in this column, can provide a number of benefits, saving energy while also boosting comfort, convenience, and home integrity and durability. But claims about savings in particular can be exaggerated, and an upgrade that saved a lot for one person may not for you, as many factors can play a role.

Windows

Getting new windows can enhance your home’s appearance, comfort and energy efficiency, but the energy savings you see will usually not cover the expense. Instead, consider if you can repair your windows and incorporate energy-efficiency steps along the way, such as sealing air leaks, or adding window coverings or treatments like storm windows.

Home Solar

Any sound bites about solar power totally eliminating your energy bills should immediately raise suspicions. While rooftop solar can provide many advantages, similar to other proven technologies, it is an investment (see “Renewables on the Roof,”  that requires significant consideration and research, as well as proper installation and maintenance. Reach out to your electric co-op for more information if you’re considering home solar.

With new products coming out every day and more incentives on the horizon to help us benefit from energy-efficient technologies, people will likely continue to try to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. Before committing your money to anything with grand statements, check with your local electric co-op, friends or neighbors, and do some online digging to ensure you won’t regret your purchase later.