10 CO-OP / CONDO ENERGY MYTHS DEBUNKED

Myth #1  Window replacement is a great way to save energy

Window replacement may be a great way to reduce chilling drafts and outdoor noise, but even at today's energy prices, your children may become parents before your new windows pay for themselves with energy savings. I've had clients with 15-year-old double-glazed windows tell me they need to replace them, and that new super-efficient windows will pay back quickly (I've heard ads on the radio making similar claims). Sorry – it's not happening. Windows comprise a small percentage of the typical building envelope, and they are relatively expensive to replace. If your existing windows are drafty, a few minor repairs and/or replacement of the balances will go a long way towards reducing drafts – the chief cause of discomfort – at a fraction of the cost of a new window.

Myth #2  Your boiler is on its last legs and must be replaced ASAP

Most people have no idea how their boiler works. As soon as the boiler starts to look a little long in the tooth, it is easy to prey on this ignorance and take advantage of the fear that it will explode if it is not replaced right away. That fear is utterly misplaced. Few boilers explode, and when they do, it's rarely because they are old or even because they are rusty and "falling apart" (it's usually because someone neglected or deliberately disabled some of the safety controls). I've had to talk some boards out of spending upwards of $100,000 on boiler replacement. You'd think it would be easy to convince people not to spend money like that – but often it is not.

"What about replacing the old rattletrap with a more efficient unit? Surely that's a good reason?" you say.

Well, no. Most New York City buildings have steam heat, so a new boiler is not going to be much more efficient than the old one. In properties with forced hot water heat, there could be a big efficiency improvement – but the payback period will still be pretty long.

Myth #3  Gas is more efficient than oil / Oil is more efficient than gas

You hear these conflicting claims all the time. The truth is, it depends a lot on what kind of system you have, and what sort of condition it's in. Broadly speaking, for steam systems, oil has the potential to be more efficient than gas, sometimes significantly so. For forced hot water systems, oil still has the theoretical edge unless you install a so-called condensing gas boiler. Problem is, most retrofits can't really take advantage of this high efficiency. It's almost always more cost-effective to squeeze the most you can out of your existing fuel than to switch from one to another (unless you already have dual-fuel capability).

Myth #4  An energy management system will save big money

Well, it might. But so will adjusting your existing control system, which will cost a heck of a lot less.

Myth #5  Night setback does not work

People ask me, "Doesn't it take more energy to heat the building back up in the morning?" Turns out it doesn't. Research conducted as far back as the 1970s show conclusively that what counts is the average temperature of the building – the lower it is, the less energy it consumes. And night setback lowers the average temperature of the building.

Myth #6  More steam pressure is better

Sorry, but no – if anything, it's worse because it exacerbates leaks.

Myth #7  Parts are no longer available – you'd better get a newer model

Another scare tactic. I've gotten this line from contractors and then found parts sources on the web in two minutes. Don't go for this until you've done some checking.

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