Home Improvement Through Energy Efficiency
As energy costs spike and heating and cooling
costs become more and more expensive, any chance to lower utility bills
by making a home more energy-efficient is worth investigating. While
many energy-saving solutions require a change of lifestyle, daily
upkeep, or are very expensive to install, there are some simple things
that can be done around the house that will quickly and conveniently
make a difference in energy bills. In this article, we’ve outlined some
home improvement ideas that work.
Insulation
According
to a report by Energy Star, home heating and cooling costs can be cut
by 20% by properly sealing and insulating a home. A one-time investment
can permanently benefit your home and save you money.
Attics
Heat
rises in a home, with warm air leaving from the attic and upper levels
and pulling in from the lower levels through the basement, crawlspace,
and outside. Reduce the conditioned air exiting from the attic by
insulating all areas and replace any insulation that is old or moist.
Check that the entire floor is sealed underneath the insulation, and
caulk or use spray foam insulation on any cracks or crevices.
Using
10-12 inches of insulation on an attic floor is standard, giving it an
R-38 insulation rating. However, adding enough insulation to bring it
to R-50 or more is recommended. Attic stairways are also a major escape
route for warm air. The gaps created by an attic stairway can amount to
as much as 40 square inches! Self-adhesive foam tape can be run along
the upper edges of the attic staircase door to help reduce this
leakage. Use eyehooks or a latch to jam the door against the foam when
it’s not in use.
There are also many places around the home
itself where air can leak in. Use caulk or spray foam to seal holes
where wires enter into the basement and main house area. Seal around
all these cables, pipes and other crevices. Make sure to brush away any
dirt or cobwebs before applying caulk or spray foam.
Basements and Crawlspaces
Insulating
the basement is a very effective way to add energy-efficiency to your
home. Because water vapor comes into the basement through the concrete
walls, this insulation should be water resistant and include a vapor
barrier. Otherwise, it can become a habitat for mold and the moisture
will ruin the insulation.
Encapsulating a crawlspace is also
a fantastic way to make a home more energy-efficient. By sealing
crawlspace vents, warm air is prevented from entering in the summer,
where it would add humidity to the home. Sealing crawlspace vents also
keeps cold air out that would otherwise seep into the house in the
winter. A seal is created between the crawlspace walls and the air in a
home that protects pipes, water heater, and heating ducts from cold.
Plumbing
The
water heater and pipes can lose a great deal of heat as they run
through a damp basement and especially in a cold, vented crawlspace.
Insulating the pipes and covering the water heater with an inexpensive
insulative blanket can help the keep the heat where it should be.
Heating and/or cooling vents that have been installed improperly can
leak 25% of the air they vent into the crawlspace, basement and attic.
Have a professional clean the vents and test them for leaks that need
to be sealed.
Windows and Doors
As much as
30-35% of the heat in a home is lost through the windows. Glass panes
are the weakest link in a home’s insulation, and on cold days, it can
feel uncomfortable near the windows in even a properly heated home.
If
the windows are broken or have cracked panes, then they should be
replaced. Single-paned steel cellar windows that are drafty and rusting
also lose a great deal of heat and should be replaced with vinyl,
double-thermopane windows. Buying windows with a Low-E coating will
take advantage of sunlight to keep warmth in the home in the winter and
cool temperatures in the summer. In the basement, installing proper
window wells with covers will protect basement windows from blowing
winds as well as help prevent flooding.
Installing storm
windows and weather stripping over normal windows will do wonders for
keeping heat in and outside sounds out. Weather stripping caulk is
clear and designed to strip off without damaging paint when it’s no
longer needed. Thick, high quality drapes can add beauty and insulation
to windows as well- especially if the curtains are drawn during cold
weather. Weather stripping the doors is also a fantastic way to keep
conditioned air in the house while making a home cozier, quieter, and
more secure. And according to USA Today, United States residents can
get up to a $500 tax credit on efficient doors and $200 on windows!
(Source =
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2005-08-01-breaks_x.htm)
Appliances
Proper
care of appliances will save a great deal of money in the long run.
Most effective maintenance requires a one-time repair or an annual
service and should be no trouble at all. Keep appliances in good order,
and they will continue to perform at their peak.
- Furnace
filters are inexpensive and easy to install. They should be replaced
every 30-45 days (more often if there are pets living in the home).
This will keep the air circulating through the house more freely and
will stop the blower from having to work harder to move the air through
a clogged filter. Severely clogged filters can overheat and lead to
premature damage in their compressor. Oil furnaces should be serviced
and their parts lubricated once a year. Gas-fired furnaces, boilers,
and air conditioning systems should be checked every two years. In the
summer when the furnace is not running, turn off the pilot light so
that fuel isn’t being used to keep it lit during the warm months. - When
a light bulbs goes out, replace it with a florescent light. Florescent
lights last ten times as long as regular bulbs and are four times as
efficient. Install florescent lights in drop ceilings in the basement
for optimum light and efficiency. Replacing outside floodlights with
high-pressure sodium lamps will produce a higher-efficiency light that
will attract fewer insects because the light is harder for them to see. - Keep
refrigerators away from the wall to circulate the air well. Dust will
interfere with the heat exchange coils and prevent the fan from working
properly- clean this at least once a year. Defrost the refrigerator
regularly to keep it at its best and to increase its life. When cooking
food, cover the pots and pans with a lid to save nearly 50% of the lost
heat. When doing laundry, remember that colored clothes do not need to
be washed in warm or hot water- this just wastes energy and causes the
colors to fade. - Dehumidifying air in a
home will make it much more energy-efficient to cool. The lion’s share
of an air conditioning’s job is to dehumidify. Install a self-draining
and energy-efficient dehumidifier to save on air conditioning, and take
care not to block air conditioning and heating vents with furniture or
drapes. Keep the doors open to rooms that are normally in use to allow
conditioned air to move easily around the area. Shut off rooms that are
not regularly used. In the summer, a ceiling fan will give the room a
more comfortable feel. Run the fan slowly in the winter to move the
warmest air from the ceiling to the main area of the room.
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 Making your Home Energy-Efficient From the Bottom Up!
, which
would then travel into the main area of your home. A dry crawlspace
will be safer from rot and your entire house will be a healthier place.
About the author
Jacques Bouchard is a professional writer for
http://www.basementsystems.com . Our
company does basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, sump pump
installation, dehumidification, and basement finishing. Our estimates, consultations, and 90-page
full cover books are free and no-obligation, and all our products come with a
great reputation and written warranty.
Â
Jacques Bouchard
Basement Systems
Total Basement
Finishing
60 Silvermine Road
Seymour, CT 06483
800-541-0487 x9335
Tags: attic floor, attic stairways, attics, basement crawlspace, caulk, cobwebs, conditioned air, crevices, energy bills, energy star, escape route, foam tape, home heating and cooling, home improvement ideas, insulating a home, lower utility bills, spray foam insulation, square inches, time investment, upper edges
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