Energy conservation measures are the best first step to reducing carbon emissions.  Failing to make these efforts is leaving money on the table  by not reducing the energy waste in your budget.  We list the following in order of rapid return on investment.  The net result will pay for itself over the future of your home, and the reduced expensive bills for electricity after the renewable evolution is in full force.  Conservation now allows you to put the savings into an investment account to fund the renovation required for the transfer to electricity energy fulfillment.  ( it ain't going to be cheap folks.)

Attic insulation:

By far the quickest method to reduce heat loss from your home and reduce heat gain in the summertime.  While you at it, if you have air conditioning ducts in your attic, have the seams of the ductwork taped with silver tape to reduce leaks, have those ducts covered with insulation board, or replace round flexible tubing with insulated tubing.  Many of these systems were installed, without the consideration of the heat gain in the attic in the summer. In winter these ducts leak air and lose heat to the cold attic before the heat gets to the rooms. Tubed ducts must be supported to avoid kinks that will restrict air flow.

hot water and steam heat

The most efficient systems are designed to include proper piping insulation on supply pipes.  If you feel the pipes in the system when it is running, lots of energy is lost in exposed piping, heating the pipes to get the worm water or steam to the radiators in the room.  It takes longer and more energy to get the necessary temperature water to the rooms when heat is lost on the way.  Hot water pipes should have 1/2 to 1 inch thick black foam or rubber insulation on them.  This is a great do it yourself project.  For steam piping you will need 1 1/2 to 2 inch thick fiberglass insulation. Make sure you have any asbestos insulation removed by a properly licensed professional.  Doing this yourself is a severe health hazard, and should be researched thoroughly before taking any action.  Your going to have to do it eventually.  The sooner the more savings the project will yield permanent savings. The estimated savings can approach 20% reduction of fuel use and carbon emissions, as you are putting the energy where you need it and not in the empty piping channels of the walls and basement.

Exquisite Heat boiler control.

Now that your system is delivering the heat to the space desired, Exquisite Heat can help properly size the output of your heating plant to the actual heat load of the space.  Exquisite Heat will provide a 20% savings by taming your boiler to the actual heat load of the space.  By making adjustments on a real time basis, you avoid overheat the boiler on a mild day, while having the horsepower needed when the temperature drops late at night and during cold snaps and storms.  As the heat load changes the boiler supply changes to make precise heat load replacement.  You comfort in all rooms will improve, giving you the real value you want from your heating dollars.

Boiler replacement:

If your boiler is less than 25 years old and is not leaking, Exquisite Heat will provide the additional efficiency you need to get you to the changeover to electricity in 2030.  If you insist on changing you boiler, do your own homework.  Many sales presentations are designed to sell boilers.  The discussion about condensing boilers is still out.  They require a lot of maintenance, have shorter equipment life, and are not that efficient for hot water systems, unless you have in floor radiant heat.  You need to do a lot of reading before making an intelligent decision for your home.  The best efficiency protocol is to have your boiler cleaned every two years and serviced for filter and nozzle (oil), For gas, have it checked for fire efficiency and carbon monoxide and fuel gas leaks into the space once per year by a professional licensed gas service.  Chimney failure can cause carbon monoxide back into the space.  Carbon monoxide detectors should be deployed, where ever there is gas heating.

Windows

Windows are a significant energy loser. Just put your hand on the window on a cold day.  The energy loss is through leaking sash and frame, and the energy being transferred to the cold side outside.  That is why they put radiators under the windows.  They also put radiators under the windows to heat cold air coming in partially open windows for fresh air.  Our guru, Dan Holihan, tells stories about older buildings built in the early 1900's were designed to heat with open windows to avoid disease like the flu.  You can remove the sash around the windows and reinsulate the spaces between the window sash and the framing, to reduce drafts.  Additional glass panes can be added on the inside and or outside to add a layer of stagnant air, for better insulation of windows.  Window replacement is the best alternative, though not cheap.  The technology is impressive.  The return on investment will take 10 years in reduced fuel expense.  The conservation is permanent, looks great, and will improve comfort.  Nice part is you can do it a few windows at a time.  This way you can budget for the replacements.

New Heating system

If you are up to date on the climate change regulation to come, the best recommendation I can make is to repair and run your current system in top performance as suggested.  Your best investment for the future is to add an electric element to your system. This can be an electric heating element in your current HVAC system, together with the preparation for an electric heating system from heat pump integration with your current system. or considering a replacement of Air Conditioning compressor, (when needed) with a heat pump system that will be able to provide heat in wintertime.  The best models will operate outside down to -5 to-15 degree.  If you are adding Air conditioning, the mini split systems will cool in summer and heat in winter.  They have been used in Japan for many years, and are quite mature and reliable.

In wall insulation;

This are requires some research.  Some methods seem good and cheap, but some settle and create gaps, which reduce the actual effectiveness.  The installer is most important here.  The major question, always, will the installer treat your home as they would their own home.  If you have attic that is open, insulating the attic over the ceilings and between the rafters is an excellent choice. Be sure to put 12 inches in. Thicker is better.  If doing ceiling under roof, be sure there is adequate ventilation and condensation control.  Do some real homework here.  If not properly ventilating, you run the risk of insulation vale being lost to condensation in the insulation, and condensation rotting the roofing underlayment wood, if not ventilated.

Building a New House.

New laws require zero energy regulations, which code new methods to reduce carbon emissions.  Check with your architect on siting, and structure for minimum energy use.  "Do you need a big house?"