Outdated energy codes costing owners of newer homes

FARMINGTON — When you buy a new home, you expect the best in energy efficiency. But, many Utah homeowners are wasting energy and losing comfort due to outdated energy codes.

"If I break my countertop that's my responsibility," says Shelly Bouvang, a Farmington homeowner.  "My heating system is broken, and it was broken before we even moved in."

Her beautiful 3-year-old home hides a costly secret within its walls.

Her ducts leak. So, hot air does not efficiently flow through the home in the winter, and cool air doesn't get the job done in the summer.

"If they would have fixed it in the first place, or done it right in the first place, I wouldn't be dealing with this right now," she said.

Mitch Richardson, a home energy inspector, pinpointed the problems with a thermal camera, citing leaky ducts and inadequate insulation.

In the family room, he demonstrated how hot air became trapped in the walls.

"So, instead of all that warm air getting to where you want it to go, it's too busy heating up this whole cavity," he said, pointing to the air duct that runs the length of the family room.

In Bouvang's play room over the garage, it's too cold in the winter, and too hot in the summer, so the family rarely spends time there. Richardson traces it back to the leaky air ducts.

"Any one particular crack or seam in a duct isn't a big deal," he says.  "But, once you add up all of those tiny cracks and seams, it turns into a pretty big hole."

Clean Energy Utah says 38 percent of Utah homebuilders exceed current energy codes, but, most build to the 2006 code, which the state Legislature has not updated.

"The codes are really, really loose," Richardson said. "They can get away with a lot of inefficient practices."

Kevin Emerson with Utah Clean Energy says updated energy codes would lead to great savings for homeowners.

"Homes that are built to this updated energy conservation code actually would save about $175 every year," he said. "Building homes right in the beginning helps avoid the need for building new power plants, and helps put downward pressure on utility rates."

But, families like the Bouvangs waste money on unnecessarily higher energy bills and compromise on comfort.

"If we were to bring that code up to the 2009 code or the 2012 code, and we were to enforce those things, then Shelly's issues would be solved," Richardson said.

Utah Clean Energy research shows the tighter code would cost builders $980 more up front on the average Utah home. Bouvang's best fix, which includes punching holes in walls and tearing out drywall, will cost up to $5,000.

She agrees that updated codes would give new home buyers the heating and cooling comfort that they expect.

But, she now understands her problem inside the walls, and out.

"I've got a case," she said. "I think my builder is the kind of guy who will do the right thing.  I think he'll fix it."

E-mail: jboal@desnews.com