Powering energy efficiency in a 1917 home
Minnesota resident Lou Ambrose shares her journey to sustainability
When Robbinsdale, Minnesota, resident Lou Ambrose moved into her home in 1979, it had an oil-burning furnace and minimal insulation. The home was built in 1917, with much of the original mechanicals still in place. She didn’t make a lot of money at the time, so she conserved energy and looked for savings where she could.
“I paid about $100 each month to keep the house at 55 F in the winter,” Ambrose recalled. “And there was no air conditioning in the summer.”
Ambrose knew she could be doing more to improve the house’s energy efficiency. She had always been environmentally conscious but wasn’t exactly sure where to start. Then, she received her Xcel Energy bill, which included information about energy efficiency upgrades, some of which started with an energy assessment of her home. That was in the early ‘80s.
“They couldn’t get a reading on the blower door test,” she said. “They asked me if I was sure I didn’t have a window open because the house was that leaky.”
The first thing she did after the assessment was add insulation to keep the heat in during the winter. (“Back then, they would just tell you what needed to be done and didn’t do weather stripping or anything on the spot like they do now,” she said.) She added a chimney cap, a new water heater and eventually converted to a natural gas furnace and heat pump. There were no rebates at the time, so she had to finance the upgrades.
A Home Energy Squad visit — and the rebates that come along with it — have certainly come a long way since Ambrose started her energy efficiency journey decades ago.
Now, energy experts with the Home Energy Squad can do a variety of things all at once. During a two-hour visit, they’ll identify inefficiencies and offer recommendations on energy-saving improvements. They’ll also install energy-saving equipment as part of the visit, including LED light bulbs, door and attic hatch weather-stripping, a programmable or smart thermostat (with AC Rewards enrollment) and high-efficiency water fixtures like showerheads. They’ll also inspect your insulation, heating and cooling systems and water heater, providing a priority list of energy-saving measures you can choose to install.
Since Ambrose didn’t have the “one-stop” option the Home Energy Squad provides, she kept working on her home’s efficiency by herself. Her home now has a 95% efficiency rating and includes a heat pump, LED lighting, weather stripping and additional insulation and “as many solar panels as my roof could handle.”
She received an Xcel Energy rebate for installing 19 solar panels and a battery. Those items continue to produce clean electricity, generating savings on her energy bill. Last year Ambrose paid $110 for an entire year’s worth of electricity, which included charging her electric car.
“You can’t shut me up about it,” Ambrose said. To prove it, she has a sign in the front yard promoting solar panels. Ambrose is also a member of the Energy Action Volunteer Team and the Climate Collective in her neighborhood. She says she will continue to advocate for sustainable practices, encouraging her neighbors to schedule a Home Energy Squad visit and, of course, leading by example.
For more information about the Home Energy Squad, please visit the Xcel Energy website.