Weatherization Saves Energy and Money

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With cold weather on its way, now is the time to weatherize your
Courtesy of i.pining.com
home. All types of homes (apartment, duplex, mobile homes, single-family) benefit from weatherization. Making your home resistant to cold weather by adding storm windows, insulation, etc., will not only make those cold winter nights cozy it will also reduce your energy consumption and reduce your energy bill. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates a savings on your energy bill of 5 to 30%.
Weatherization – What you do
  • Add insulation to walls and attic – if needed
  • Seal air leaks in attic with expanding foam or caulk (seal around chimneys, wiring, ducts, flues, and vent stacks)
  • Caulk doors and windows
  • Install weather-stripping to windows and doors
  • Install plastic sheeting on inside windows and sliding doors
  • Install door sweep
  • Seal furnace ducts
  • Seal household leaks with spray foam (around door and window frames, chimneys, vents, skylights, etc.)
  • Use heavy curtains or drapes
Energy Audit
Hire a Certified Energy Auditor to pinpoint where your home loses energy with an Energy Audit (also known as an energy assessment). The Auditor will perform a home assessment using a variety of tools and methods. The Auditor will review previous year’s energy bills to determine consumption and interview the homeowner about problems. During the audit, the Auditor will inspect the exterior, the interior, the electrical systems, and combustion appliances. The Auditor will also perform a blower door test that detects air leaks through depressurization of your home. In the end, the Energy Audit will tell you where your home is losing energy.
Did you know?
Most homes leak air in the amount equal to leaving a medium-sized window open for 24 hours.
Efficiency Upgrades
The Energy Audit will provide you with suggestions on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency and save you money through savings on your energy bill.
Suggestions may include:
Add insulation, caulking and weather-stripping around doors and windows and plumbing pipes, replace seals at windows, and replace windows with insulating windows.
Resources
Need Weatherization Assistance? Contact your local State Agency http://www.waptac.org/Grantee-Contacts.aspx
Find a certified energy auditor using the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) http://www.resnet.us/directory/search
Calculate energy saving with the Home Energy Saver Calculator http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer/

Reference: U.S. Department of Energy https://energy.gov/public-services/homes/home-weatherization

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