Detailed Findings Regarding Energy Efficiency Upgrades
Energy efficiency upgrades was on topic as part of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s (NARI) fourth-quarter Remodeling Business Pulse (RBP) survey which polled 621 NARi members who are part of the research panel.
A dominant proportion of remodelers—80 percent—discussed energy efficiency with homeowners. Interestingly, 94 percent of remodelers are involved in one or more energy savings upgrades, with added insulation, high R windows and high efficiency furnaces being the most popular.
Discussions about energy efficiency are not typically initiated by homeowners.
“Unless the client brings this up early in the conversation,” says one remodeler, “we initiate the thought because it’s important to us and future generations.”
Consumers are interested in finding ways to save energy usage as well as remodelers. The top concern is cost followed by the amount of money that will be saved and how long it will take to reap the savings.
Of note is that 94% of remodelers are involved in one or more types of energy savings upgrades. On average, 4.7 types of upgrades are regularly done. Added insulation, high R windows and high efficiency furnaces are the most popular.
Regular Energy Savings Upgrades By Region
With modest sample sizes, most differences between regions were not significant. Some areas that showed significant differences were:
- High efficiency air conditioning was higher in the South than in the Midwest and West. The Northeast was also higher than the West.
- Tankless water heaters were significantly less popular in the Midwest than all the other regions.
- High R windows were more common in the South than the Northeast.
- Siding with insulation was significantly higher in the Northeast and Midwest than the West.
| |
Region |
| Northeast |
Midwest |
South |
West |
| Number of Respondents |
42 |
72 |
62 |
37 |
| Added insulation walls/attic |
76% |
69% |
71% |
65% |
| High R windows |
55% |
61% |
74% |
68% |
| High efficiency furnace |
62% |
60% |
55% |
57% |
| High efficiency lighting |
64% |
53% |
52% |
54% |
| High efficiency air conditioning |
60% |
43% |
65% |
27% |
| Duct insulation |
36% |
35% |
42% |
38% |
| High R exterior doors |
36% |
35% |
31% |
22% |
| Electronic controls that lower energy usage |
36% |
29% |
34% |
27% |
| Siding with insulation |
31% |
21% |
16% |
5% |
| Tankless water heater |
43% |
19% |
52% |
54% |
| Solar hot water |
2% |
3% |
0% |
0% |
| Solar heating |
0% |
1% |
2% |
3% |
Comments included by panelists noted that future sales will be tied into the energy market.
“Savvy homeowners know that energy-efficient products mean reduced operating costs,” says NARI president, Kevin Anundson, MCR, CKBR. “Now they want to incorporate energy efficiency upgrades as well as remake the space.”
For more information, contact NARI at 847-298-9200.–Susan Swartz
| 2/10/2015 12:00:00 AM |
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