Old Homes Become Newly Energy Efficient | Environment

Two old homes with new energy-efficient technology were unveiled Wednesday in Las Vegas.

The two homes are owned by the city of Las Vegas and have been retrofitted with energy-saving upgrades. The effort is part of the Department of Energy’s Building America Retrofit Alliance and a program by the Nevada Energy Star Partners-GREEN Alliance. One home reduced its energy use by at least 50 percent.

"It was an energy hog home which gave us a lot of opportunity to improve it. It leaked every bit of air-conditioning air that we put into it,” President of Nevada Energy Star Partners-GREEN Alliance Annette Bubak said. “We added foam insulation up against the roof line so it was like a cocoon.”

In a few weeks, the home at 7224 Carmen Boulevard will be open to the public during regular business hours. People can walk through to see the ways they can reduce their own energy bills. They can also learn about the incentives, rebates and low-interest financing available to upgrade homes to be more energy-efficient. The first home is at 7224 Carmen Boulevard. The second home is at 1824 Sierra Hills Way. It is not open to the public but can be viewed through an appointment.