Energy efficiency has become a “buzz word” over the past couple years throughout Chicagoland and more and more gadgets and  devices have come on the market that are specifically designed to use less  energy. Saving energy does a lot more than just reduce a building’s carbon footprint and toxic emissions; however, going green can save a building  some green too. The steps condos and HOAs can take to reduce energy consumption  and save money range from the very simple to the very complex.  

 We asked various energy experts to offer their best tips for saving energy and  money. Remember, the list is just a start—there are many ways in which you can go green, but following some of these ideas  is a great beginning.  

 Check Your Current Systems

 Without a doubt, all of the experts agreed that keeping your current systems  maintained was the number one way to save both energy and money.  

 Jim Stoller, a licensed architect and president of The Building Group in  Chicago, a property management firm, suggests bringing in a licensed engineer  to evaluate your current system and come up with cost-effective, low energy  solutions that have a three- to- five year payback.  

 “The buildings that were built over ten years ago in Chicago have older systems  and there’s been a huge efficiency increase in modern equipment, and the back of the house  equipment is not something that most management companies or managers  understand or are technically capable of analyzing,” he says. “These engineers will be able to determine where you can save energy. The big  savings can be with the back of the house equipment, like fans, motors and  pumps.”  

 Schedule an Energy Audit

 With anything in life, it’s hard to know where you’re going when you don’t know where you’ve been—and a condo building is no different. An energy audit—performed by a certified professional from a reputable firm—will provide an overview of how much energy your building is saving and losing.  The experts say that, as a result, you’ll see what changes you may need to make.  

 “An energy audit will provide the most up-to-date energy efficiency solutions and  it will be customized to your co-op or condo,” says Stoller. “They are experts and will let you know what you need to change. Not only is the  energy audit paid for by ComEd but the savings are real, immediate and they  continue.”  

 Hiring a company to do an audit can point out problems. According to Priority Energy, an energy auditor that conducts audits in Chicago  and the Midwest region, sealing leaky air ducts to keep conditioned air from  leaking outside will greatly reduce your energy use and could lower utility  costs by as much as 30 percent a year. The company says that by reducing the  strain on heating and cooling systems, they will perform better and last  longer.  

 Learn About Incentives

 If you want to install energy-saving accessories, such as low-flow shower heads,  it’s possible to earn money back if you know how.  

 A good place to start, says Stoller, is to check out the Illinois Home  Performance website, www.illinois homeperformance.org/rebates. The website offers information on the Ameren  Illinois’ Act On Energy Program that offers rebates on insulation and air sealing work up  to $5,000, The Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program that provides education,  resources and cash rebates for installing high-efficiency furnaces, boilers and  water heaters and the North Shore Gas current program, that runs through May  31, 2013 offers up to: $450 on complete system replacements (furnace and  central air conditioner), $450 for boilers, $200 for furnaces, $100 on boiler  reset controls, $200 on water heaters, and $0.10 per square foot for attic  insulation.  

 Westbrook South Condo Association in Downers Grove, a two-building 96-unit  complex, is projecting that it will save nearly $775,000 over the next 20 years  by partnering with DRF Trusted Property Solutions and Nicor Gas through its  Resource Conservation Solutions program. The condo had extremely high heating  costs due to inefficient boilers that were around 40 years old. The $300,344  project involved the replacement of Westbrook’s existing boilers with eight 600,000 BTU boilers and four indirect water  heaters. The condo’s costs decreased significantly as a result.  

 Village on the Lake Condominiums in Elk Grove Village also was plagued by  inefficient 40-year-old boilers at its 94-unit development. Working with DRF  and Nicor to get bank financing, they completed a $284,730 project that they  expect will save them 31,600 therms annually. Contact DRF at 630-615-7000 or go  to www.drfinstalls.com for more information.  

 Flip the Switch – Off.

 One of the easiest ways to cut back on how much electricity the building uses is  to change how it’s lit. Inefficient lighting can consume up to 15 percent of a building’s energy needs or more. Energy-efficient lighting can reduce consumption by 50  percent or more.  

 “LED lighting in common areas can substantially reduce electricity consumption,” says Hans Hermann, president of Cost Containment International, an energy and  sustainability consulting firm based in Chicago. “Occupancy sensors for trash chute rooms or other areas that have occasional  usage can save on electricity all year long.”  

 CFLs emit as much light as regular incandescent bulbs but can last from 8 to 10  times longer and use anywhere from 50 to 75 percent less electricity. Replace  all of the common area lighting with more energy-efficient light bulbs and the  savings can be huge. According to Energy Star, replacing one 60 watt  incandescent bulb with a 13 watt CFL will save $56 in energy costs over the CFL’s lifetime (at $0.12/kWh). In addition, CFLs reduce future costs of purchasing  new lamps—and the labor costs associated with changing light bulbs—because they last 10 times longer.  

 Better Appliances and Accessories

 It’s simple, upgrade appliances to ones that are more energy efficient and you’ll see a major difference. When you’re choosing new appliances, look for the Energy Star certification and the  EnergyGuide Label. The certification means that the appliance has met standards  that make it an energy-efficient unit. They use less energy and water than the  older models and are equipment changes each homeowner that’s in the condo association can make.  

 According to ComEd a refrigerator purchased today is almost four times more  efficient than one purchased in the 1970s. If you are thinking about buying a new appliance, you may want to compare  appliances using the full life-cycle cost—that is, the cost of ownership over the life of the appliance. You can calculate  it by using this formula: (Annual Energy Cost x Expected Life Cycle Years) +  Purchase Price = Life-Cycle Total Cost.  

 “Don’t forget to install low flow faucets, shower heads and toilets because they  conserve water,” adds Hermann.  

 Insulate, Insulate, Insulate

 In addition to rebate incentives, insulating your home will not only help reduce  your heating and cooling costs, making it more energy efficient, but it will  also make your home more comfortable, say energy experts.  

 “Proper insulation can cut 10 percent off your energy bill,” says Hermann. “Target leak areas: Wall air conditioners, doors, windows, outlets, and  fireplaces. Insulated interior shades can keep heat out in the summer and heat  in during the winter.”  

 According to TCI, a national energy auditor, “most U.S. homes should have between R-22 and R-49 insulation in the attic.  Insulating ceilings, walls, attics, floors, crawl spaces and basements to  recommended standards can reduce heating and cooling costs by 5 percent to 50  percent.” According to the EPA Energy Star guidelines, recommended levels of insulation  for Chicago, which is in Zone 6, should be anywhere from R-49 to R-60 in the  attic and R-25 to R-30 for the floor.  

 Adjust Your Thermostat

 Individually, condo or co-op owners can save energy by adjusting their  thermostats. Energy experts say that if you set your thermometer back one or  two degrees you can save 10 percent on your cooling load and that setting your  thermostat a degree warmer in the summertime and a degree cooler in the  wintertime would make a big difference. “Setting your water heater to 120 degrees will help lower your electric bill and  make your home safer for children,” says Hermann. “Co-op and condo owners can also keep energy use down by keeping the fridge  between 37 to 40 degrees and the freezer compartment between zero and five  degrees.”  

 Unplug Your Appliances

 Unplugging appliances when you are not using them is as easy as pie but  according to energy efficiency experts, few people do it.  

 “A TV left on for eight hours a day or while you sleep will cost you about $41 to  $102 per year,” says Hermann. “And don’t forget to turn off your monitor when shutting down your computer because it  can use twice as much energy.”  

 Hermann also recommends cleaning in the lint trap in your dryer to keep it  running more efficiently and to reduce hot water use by washing clothes in cold  water if possible, and to always use the cold-water rinse.  

 Upgrade Windows

 Chicagoans are no stranger to harsh winters. If your windows are more than 15  years old your home could get drafty in the winter time in a hurry.  

 “There’s tremendous savings in window replacement. Most buildings built in Chicago  before 1970 only has single glazed windows so the cold weather will pass almost  directly from the inside to the outside,” says Stoller. “New windows are far more energy efficient. The new windows have two panes of  glass. It’s called thermo pane. That’s when they have two panes with an air space between them so it’s an insulated glass panel. When you put in new windows in, not only are people  happy with energy savings, their units are also much quieter.”  

 Consider Energy-Efficient Landscaping

 Not only does landscaping add beauty to your home, it can also help lessen your  energy bills. On average, landscaping provides enough energy savings to return  your initial investment in less than 8 years says the Department of Energy.  

 According to ComEd, trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures by up to nine  degrees. Temperatures directly under trees can be as much as 25 degrees cooler  than the air above nearby asphalt and trees that lose their leaves in the  winter give protection from the summer heat while allowing the sun to warm your  home in the cold of winter. Plant trees to the south, east, and west of your  home to reduce the impact of solar heat.   

 Lisa Iannucci is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to The  Chicagoland Cooperator. Staff Writer Christy Smith-Sloman contributed to this  article.