Top energy questions to ask when buying an older home

Thinking of buying an older home? How efficient will it use energy? This is a question many homebuyers are asking these days. Here are some tips that may help:

1) Request energy bill copies
Ask to see the energy bills for the last 12 months for all energy sources used in the home, i.e. electricity, natural gas, propane, etc. Look at the July/August and the January/February bills. These bills should reflect the highest monthly energy costs for the current owners. Do these costs fit into your monthly budget? Remember that lifestyle is a critical part of your energy costs. It is not unusual for a retired couple to have much lower energy bills than a family of four in the same home.

2) Request an energy audit
If the energy costs seem too high, ask for a certified Building Performance Institute Building Analyst to conduct an in-depth energy audit on the home. Or, request that the owner have a free in-home energy consultation from SCE&G. Either way, you should receive a detailed report on the current energy efficiency level of the home and what can be done to improve it.

3) Obtain a list of appliances
Request a list of the type and age of major appliances installed in the home, i.e. furnace/heat pump, water heater, HVAC system, etc. Review this list for possible replacements that you might have to make within a few years. Here are some estimated life expectancies:

· tanked water heaters and heat pumps: 12-15 years;

· natural gas furnaces: 15-20 years, but some heat exchangers have a lifetime guarantee;

· tankless natural gas water heaters: 20 years.

Also, ask for information about repairs made to the heating/cooling systems and water heater so you can see if they remedied the problem for good or only temporarily.

4) Talk with your tax advisor
If you made energy efficiency repairs/upgrades on the home, would you qualify for the 2010 Federal Tax Credits? You may be eligible for up to $1,500 and might be able to significantly reduce the energy costs of the home. This ends 12/31/10.

5) Appliance rebates
While funds last, the S.C. Energy office is offering rebates when customers replace older, inefficient appliances like refrigerators, window air conditioners and dishwashers with new ENERGY STAR® appliances. If you choose to replace appliances, this offer may help.