Tips On Saving Money And Energy In Your Home

Where to Air Seal in a Home1 Plumbing andutility access2 All ducts83 Sill plates71141694 Outlets andswitches5 Water andfurnace flues106 Recessed lights7 Attic entrance328 Chimney flashing59 Dropped ceilings10 Door frames11 Window frames Seal air leaks around fireplacechimneys, furnaces, and gas-firedwater heater vents with fire-resistantmaterials such as sheet metalor sheetrock and furnace cementcaulk. Install an insulated box to sealleaky attic stairs. Visit EnergySaver.gov for DIY instructions.InsulationAfter you complete air sealing,consider whether you need to addinsulation. Insulation is essential forreducing heat flow through a home’sbuilding envelope (the parts of thehome that separate the interior fromthe outside elements, including thewalls, roof, and foundation). Thegreater the difference between theindoor and the outdoor temperatures, the more energy it will taketo maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.Adding insulation between the indoorsand the outdoors reduces that energydemand, improves the comfort of yourhome, and saves you money.R-ValueAn insulation’s R-value is a measureof its resistance to heat flow; thehigher the R-value, the greater theinsulating effectiveness. R-value isdependent on the type of insulationand the thickness. When purchasinginsulation, refer to the insulationpackaging or the paper backing ofrolled insulation to find the R-value.How Much Insulation?Consult the ENERGY STAR recommended insulation levels for retrofitting existing wood-framed buildings7

U.S. Department of Energy Recommended*Total R-Values for New Wood-Framed Houses8All of Alaska in Zone 7 except for thefollowing Boroughs in Zone 8:BethelNorthwest ArcticDellinghamSoutheast FairbanksFairbanks N. Star Wade HamptonNomeYukon-KoyukukNorth SlopeZone 1 includesHawaii, Guam, PuertoRico, and the VirginIslandsAdd Insulation to AtticZoneUninsulated AtticExisting 3–4 Inchesof InsulationFloor1R30 to R49R25 to R30R132R30 to R60R25 to R38R13 to R193R30 to R60R25 to R38R19 to R254R38 to R60R38R25 to R305 to 8R49 to R60R38 to R49R25 to R30Wall Insulation: Whenever exterior siding is removed on anuninsulated wood-frame wall: Drill holes in the sheathing and blow insulation into the empty wall cavity beforeinstalling the new siding, and Zones 3–4: Add R5 insulative wall sheathing beneath the new siding Zones 5–8: Add R5 to R6 insulative wall sheathing beneath the new siding.insulated wood-frame wall: For Zones 4 to 8: Add R5 insulative sheathing before installing the new siding.* These recommendations are cost-effective levels of insulation based on the best available information onlocal fuel and materials costs and weather conditions. Consequently, the levels may differ from current localbuilding codes.Source: ENERGY STAR

to determine how much insulationyou should consider adding to yourhome. For masonry sidewalls (suchas concrete block or poured concrete),it is sometimes feasible to installrigid insulation on the outdoor side.However, if that is not an option, youcan use rigid insulation boards orbatts to insulate the interior of masonry walls. A home energy professional can help you evaluate optionsfor your specific home.Consider factors such as your climate,home design, and budget whenselecting insulation for your home.A home energy professional may beable to help you decide what type ofinsulation is best for you.The Home Energy Saver tool canalso provide recommendations foryour home (hes.lbl.gov/consumer).Types of InsulationInsulation is made from a variety ofmaterials, and it usually comes infour types: rolls and batts, loose-fill,rigid foam, and foam-in-place. Thetype of insulation you should choosedepends on how you will use it andon your budget. Also visit EnergySaver.gov for more information abouttypes of insulation.Rolls and batts—or blankets—areflexible products made from mineralfibers, such as fiberglass and rockwool, as well as recycled fibers suchas denim. They are available inwidths suited to standard spacing ofwall studs and attic or floor joists.Loose-fill insulation is usually madeof fiberglass, rock wool, or cellulosein the form of loose fibers or fiberpellets. It should be blown into spacesusing special pneumatic equipment.The blown-in material conforms readily to odd-sized building cavities andattics with wires, ducts, and pipes,making it well suited for places whereit is difficult to effectively install othertypes of insulation.Rigid foam insulation is typicallymore expensive than rolls and battsor loose-fill insulation, but it is veryeffective in exterior wall sheathing,interior sheathing for basementwalls, and special applications suchas attic hatches.Foam-in-place insulation can beblown into walls, on attic surfaces,or under floors to insulate and reduce air leakage. You can use smallpressurized cans of foam-in-placeinsulation to reduce air leakage inholes and cracks, such as windowand door frames and around electricaland plumbing penetrations. There aretwo types of foam-in-place insulation:closed-cell and open-cell. Both aretypically made with polyurethane.Caution: installing foam insulationrequires that you wear personal protective equipment, maintain adequateventilation, and take other safetymeasures. Consider hiring a professional to install foam insulation.Use higher R-value insulation, suchas spray foam, on exterior walls andin cathedral ceilings to get moreinsulation with less thickness.9

If your attic has enough insulationand proper air sealing, and yourhome still feels drafty and cold inthe winter or too warm in the summer, your heating or air conditioningsystem may not function properly,or you may need to add insulationto the exterior walls. Consult with ahome energy professional to evaluate whether your HVAC system hasdesign or equipment issues, or if youneed additional insulation.10If you replace the exterior siding onyour home, consider adding insulation at the same time.Air Sealing and InsulationProjectsSee the References section for linksto DIY air sealing and insulation project steps and instructional videos.Energy Efficient NewConstruction and AdditionsIn many jurisdictions (but not all), ifyou build a new home or an additionto your current home, the contractormust meet the requirements of thelocal building code related to energyefficiency. Building energy codes areissued by the International EnergyCodes Commission (IECC) and updated every 3 years. State and localjurisdictions adopt the IECC codesand may choose to amend them.Ask your local building code officewhich version of the IECC your contractor is required to follow. If thelocal code is older than the latestIECC, consider building an ENERGYSTAR Certified New Home or a ZeroEnergy Ready Home.An ENERGY STAR Certified NewHome has integrated systems andfeatures such as high efficiency heating and cooling, complete thermalenclosure systems, efficient lightingand appliances, and water protectionsystems. Independent inspectorsensure that the home meets theprogram requirements. Homesearning the ENERGY STAR label use15%–30% less energy than typicalnew homes and even more whencompared to most resale homeson the market today. Learn more atenergystar.gov/newhomes.A Zero Energy Ready Home is so energy efficient that a small renewableenergy system can offset all or mostof its annual energy consumption.Zero Energy Ready Home requirements include all ENERGY STARCertified Home requirements, plusadditional requirements that bringunparalleled performance. DOE ZeroEnergy Ready Homes are verified bya qualified third party and are atleast 40%–50% more energy efficientthan a typical new home. Learn moreat energy.gov/eere/buildings/zeroenergy-ready-home.

Heat and Cool YourHome EfficientlyHeating and cooling together are thelargest energy users in your home,typically making up about 35%–40%of your energy use.No matter what kind of heating andcooling system you have in yourhouse, you can save money andincrease your comfort by properlyusing, maintaining, and upgradingyour equipment. But remember, anyupgrades to heating and coolingequipment should consider the effecton all areas of the house (known asa whole-house, systems-based approach) to maximize energy savingsand ensure health and safety. Mostimportantly, work with a contractorto ensure that the upgraded heatingand cooling system is both properlysized for your house and installed todeliver its full capacity.Smart and ProgrammableThermostatsBeing smart about how you controlyour temperature settings will helpyou save money and stay comfortablein your home. You can save as muchas 10% per year on heating andcooling by turning your thermostatdown 7 –10 F for 8 hours a day inthe fall and winter; turn it up in thespring and summer. (If you have aheat pump, don’t do this without asmart or programmable thermostatdesigned for use with heat pumps.)A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi enableddevice that automatically adjustsheating and cooling temperature settings for optimal performance. Smartthermostats that earn the ENERGYSTAR label have been independentlycertified, based on actual field data,to deliver energy savings.11Log in remotely to control yourthermostat while away from home.Smart thermostats provide convenience, insight, and control. Whilesystem designs vary, the followingare common smart thermostatfeatures: Learning the temperature you likeand establishing a schedule thatautomatically adjusts to energysaving temperatures when you areasleep or away Providing data on home energy usethat you can track and manage Allowing you to control home heating and cooling remotely throughyour smartphone or tablet.

ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats are also designed to becompatible with incentive programsoffered by some utilities. Theseincentives reward customers in waysthat help utilities manage energyavailability and reliability.A programmable thermostat will automatically turn on the heating or airconditioning at times you schedule.Programmable thermostats can storemultiple daily settings that you canmanually override without affectingthe rest of the daily or weekly program.12Smart thermostats are generallyeasier to use and have more reporting and interactive features thanprogrammable thermostats. Programmable thermostats need to be set upto turn the temperature up or downon a schedule and usually don’t haveinteractive features, but they arecheaper than smart thermostats.Air DuctsAir ducts are one of the most important systems in your home, asthey carry the air from your home’sfurnace and central air conditionerto each room. If the ducts are poorlysized, poorly sealed, or poorly insulated, they are likely contributing tohigher energy bills.You can often address discomfortfrom heating and cooling by fixingblocked registers, stuck dampers,or disconnected or damaged ducts,or by replacing register grilles thatdon’t direct the air adequately.Seal ducts at joints to prevent heatedor cooled air from leaking out orunconditioned air from leaking intothe ducts.Ducts that leak air into an attic orcrawl space can add hundreds ofdollars a year to your heating andcooling bills. Insulating and sealingducts in unconditioned spaces isusually very cost effective. If thesupply ducts are leaking, heatedor cooled air can be forced out ofunsealed joints and lost. In addition,unconditioned air can be drawn intoreturn ducts through unsealed joints.If you are installing a new ductsystem, talk to your contractor aboutoptions for locating the ducts inInsulate ducts that are located inunconditioned spaces.

conditioned spaces or insulating anyducts that will run outside conditionedspaces.Hire a qualified professional toperform changes and repairs to aduct system. All duct sealing shouldbe tested by a qualified professionalto ensure combustion safety andproper air flow.Buying Heating andCooling SystemsIf you plan to buy a new heating orcooling system, ask your contractorabout the latest technologies on themarket. See our Financing, Incentives,and Assistance section for information on searching for incentives.When buying a new heating or coolingsystem, look for the ENERGY STARand EnergyGuide labels to compareefficiency and ensure quality.Your contractor should provide youwith information on the following: Safety and cost effectiveness ofrepair versus replacement Heating and cooling system options Fuel types and prices in your region Required permits and building codecompliance Calculations for proper sizing foryour home Other home efficiency improvements that should be made.New energy efficient heating orcooling equipment alone can reduceenergy use by 20% or more, butcombining a new system with recommended insulation, air sealing,and thermostat settings can cut yourheating and cooling bills in half.Read ENERGY STAR’s “A Guide toEnergy-Efficient Heating and Cooling”to learn how to work with a certifiedtechnician to ensure a quality installation. (See References for URL.)Home HeatingConsider replacing your existingheating system if any of the followingare true: Your heating system is more than15 years old. The system is broken and repairswould cost more than half the costof replacing it. The heating system is veryinefficient.Furnaces are the most common wayto heat a home in the United States.Central forced-air furnaces distributeheated air through the house viaducts. Most are fueled by natural gas;others use electricity, oil, or propane.Boilers use natural gas, oil, electricity,or propane to heat water (for steamor hot water) that is distributed viapipes to upright radiators, baseboardconvectors, or radiant floor tubing.Combination units can provide spaceand water heating.13

14For both furnaces and boilers, tellyour contractor you are interestedin models with a high annual fuelutilization efficiency, also known asAFUE, which is a measure of heatingequipment efficiency.see the section on Passive Solar formore information.Electric heating includes centralforced-air electric furnaces, as well aswall-mounted or baseboard heating.Electric heat can be more expensivethan other fuel options. If electricityis the only choice, heat pumps arepreferable in most climates. Clean or replace filters on furnacesonce a month or as recommended.Heat pumps are an efficient optionfor all-electric houses or houses withcentral propane or oil. Heat pumpsare generally air-source or groundsource and can be used for bothheating and cooling. See the sectionon Heat Pumps for more information. Eliminate trapped air from hot-waterradiators once or twice a season;contact a professional if you’reunsure how to perform this task.Wood and pellet-fuel stoves heathomes using biomass or wastesources. Look for EPA-certified woodstoves and fireplace inserts forcleaner, more efficient burning. Visitepa.gov/burnwise for options.Visit EnergySaver.gov for more detailed information on each technology.Heating Tips Clean warm-air registers, baseboardheaters, and radiators as needed;make sure they’re not blocked byfurniture, carpeting, or drapes. Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and theradiators. Open draperies and shades on yoursouth-facing windows during theday to allow the sunlight to enteryour home. Close them at night toreduce the chill from cold windows.Active solar heating uses the sun toheat air or liquids. The heat is thenducted or blown into living spaceor stored for later use. Solar waterheaters can preheat water for radiators or radiant floor heat. Both liquidand air systems can supplementforced air systems (i.e., furnaces orheat pumps).Passive solar home design can alsoimprove the comfort of the home andreduce heating and cooling costs;Clean or replace furnace filters once amonth or as needed.

Heat PumpsHeat pumps can be used for bothhome heating and home cooling.They are the most efficient form ofelectric heating, providing up to threetimes more heat than the energy theyuse. Heat pumps can reduce yourelectricity use for heating by approximately 50% compared to electric furnaces or electric baseboard heaters.A heat pump heats your home bycollecting heat from the air, water, orground outside and concentrating itfor use inside. It does double duty asa central air conditioner by collectingthe heat inside your house andpumping it outside.Air-source heat pumps transfer heatbetween your house and the outsideair. They are the most common typeof heat pump and can be used in allclimates.Cold-climate air-source heat pumpsare designed specifically for coldclimates.Ductless mini-split heat pumps areair-source heat pumps that can beinstalled in homes or additions without ducts. They are small in size andoffer flexibility for zoning or heatingand cooling individual rooms.Geothermal (or ground source) heatpumps transfer heat between yourhouse and the ground or a nearbywater source. Because they moveheat that already exists, geothermalheat pumps are among the mostenergy efficient and comfortableheating and cooling technologiescurrently available.Absorption heat pumps are drivenby a heat source such as naturalgas, propane, solar-heated water, orgeothermal-heated water. They usuallyonly make sense in homes withoutan electricity source.A dual-source heat pump combinesan air-source heat pump with ageothermal heat pump. These can beless expensive than a single geothermal unit and work almost as well.Heat Pump Tips Do not set back the heat pump’sthermostat manually if it causesbackup electric-resistance heatingto come on. This type of heating ismore expensive. Install or have a professionalinstall a smart or programmablethermostat with functions suitablefor a heat pump. Clean or change filters once amonth or as needed, and maintainthe system according to manufacturer’s instructions.Home CoolingAlthough air c

Save Energy and Money Today You have the power to save money and energy in your own home. Saving energy reduces our nation’s demand for the resources needed to make energy, and improving your energy efficiency is like adding another clean energy source to our electric power grid. The