Low-emittance - or Low-E - windows are an increasingly common way to control temperature within the building envelope. Traditionally, windows were accepted as being “energy losers” - they lacked the insulation found in the rest of the building frame, so they were prime locations for heat to escape in winter or for cool air to escape in summer (either being conducted through the glass or slipping through cracks in the window frame).
Along with weatherstripping, caulking is one of two essential techniques for sealing air leaks in your home. It is ideal for sealing gaps that don’t open and shut - for instance, where your fireplace or an air vent is built into the wall. It works best where cracks or gaps are less than ¼ inch wide. Caulking consists of applying a thick substance called caulk directly over gaps. The substance soon dries, forming an airtight barrier between the inside and outside. As an added bonus, caulking will also help prevent moisture from seeping into your home, which will help keep mold out, and it can be an effective barrier against insects.
Weatherstripping is an ideal solution to air leaks at the edges of windows and doors. Affixing a material to the space between door and window closures, or on their sides, can stop the leaks. There are many different types of weather-stripping materials; foam, felt, metal and vinyl are the common ones.
When you conduct over 3000 Home Energy Audits per year you’re bound to run into some interesting opinions. Many people believe certain things about home energy consumption that are just not true. These “Energy Myths” have often been inherited from one generation to the next. “Grandma always said…” is the typical preface to many of these energy myths. But a whole lot has changed in the last 50-100 years that makes grandma’s recommendations obsolete. Sorry Grandma. So after hearing many different Energy Myths from many different energy customers, the staff of Conservation Consultants got together and compiled some of the most common ones into a list of… drum roll please…
The following forms of insulation are less commonly used than fiberglass and cellulose, but this doesn’t mean they’re less desirable. Most offer unique advantages over more traditional insulation, although they may have higher initial costs or other drawbacks as well. We urge you to consider them and make the decision that works best for your home, your finances and your environmental commitment.
Foamed insulation is a bit expensive initially, but lasts longer and insulates better than others. It is made of various materials in their liquid states, and can be sprayed, injected or poured into the building envelope. Because foamed insulation can be made of many different materials, its R-values vary widely, from around 3 to at least 8.
Fiberglass has long been one of the most common types of insulation. It comes in many different forms, but the basic concept is that glass is heated and spun to form tiny fibers that stick together haphazardly. The structure traps air well, making it a good insulator.
Cellulose loose-fill is best compared to fiberglass loose-fill because both offer the benefit of more effectively sealing the building envelope from heat transfer. Cellulose tends to offer a better R-value per inch (see chart below), and it is not a possible carcinogen. It also boasts some environmental credentials above those fiberglass can claim: it has a greater percentage of recycled content, its manufacture is about 8 times less energy-intensive and, when it is removed from a house frame, it can theoretically be composted. However, cellulose tends to be more expensive, and its installation can be more labor-intensive than that of fiberglass blankets. It’s especially important to ensure proper installation of sprayed-in cellulose because if it is left too wet, mold, mildew and even rot can form in the house frame.
An essential component of conserving energy is keeping conditioned air in your house and keeping unconditioned air out, meaning that in the winter hot air doesn’t escape and in the summer cool air doesn’t escape. Insulation plays a role in keeping your house warm too, but regular fiberglass insulation does not stop the flow of air. Typically insulation is effective at preventing heat transfer through materials (limiting your home’s ability to conduct heat), it cannot prevent air from actually sneaking in and out through holes and cracks. (The exception to this is sprayed-in Cellulose and some foam insulations that can both air seal and insulate)
Are you interested in installing an alternative energy system in your home, but can’t swallow the price of solar panels or wind turbines? Let the federal and state government help pay the bill! New tax credit laws have recently been passed by Congress and state legislatures, including Pennsylvania’s, which help corporate, business, private, non-profit and agriculture sectors, as well as homeowners, to pay for alternative energy systems. This is the government’s way of encouraging individuals and groups to save energy and money by utilizing the growing capabilities of energy systems that don’t depend on an outside power company. By creating your own power and either using it right away, storing it in a battery system, or selling it back to your electric company (see the article on Net Metering) you can keep tons-literally tons-of harmful pollutants from being released into the air, water and soil.
