Energy Saving Booklet - Pat Wattam

Rolls and batts—or blankets—areflexible products made from mineralfibers, such as fiberglass and rock wool.They are available in widths suited tostandard spacings of wall studs and atticor floor joists: 2x4 walls can hold R-13or R-15 batts; 2x6 walls can have R-19or R-21 products.Loose-fill insulation—usually madeof fiberglass, rock wool, or cellulose inthe form of loose fibers or fiber pellets,it should be blown into spaces usingspecial pneumatic equipment. Theblown-in material conforms readily tobuilding cavities and attics. Therefore,loose-fill insulation is well suited forplaces where it is difficult to install otherty pes of insulation.Rigid foam insulation—foam insulationty pically is more expensive than fiberinsulation. But it’s ververy effective inbuildings with space limitations andwhere higher R-values are needed. Foaminsulation R-values range from R-4 toR-6.5 per inch of thickness, which is up to2 times greater than most other insulatingmaterials of the same thickness.Foam-in-place insulation—this ty pecan be blown into walls and reduces airleakage, if blown into cracks, such asaround window and door frames.17736 bklet5Should I Insulate My Home?Insulate your home when: You have an older home andhaven’t added insulation. Only 20%of homes built before 1980 arewell insulated. You are uncomfortably cold in thewinter or hot in the summer—adding insulation creates a moreuniform temperature and increasescomfort. You build a new home, addition, orinstall new siding or roofing. You pay high energy bills. You are bothered by noise fromoutside—insulation muffles sound.Insulation Tips Consider factors such as y ourclimate, building design, and budgetwhen selecting insulation R-valuesfor y our home. Use higher density insulation onexterior walls, such as rigid foamboards, in cathedral ceilings and onexterior walls. Ventilation helps with moisturecontrol and reducing summercooling bills. Attic vents can beinstalled along the entire ceilingcavity to help ensure proper airflowfrom the soffit to the attic to make ahome more comfortable and energy efficient. Do not ventilate y ourattic if y ou have insulation on theunderside of the roof. Check with aqualified contractor. Recessed light fixtures can be amajor source of heat loss, but y ouneed to be careful how close y ouplace insulation next to a fixtureunless it is marked IC—designedfor direct insulation contact. Checky our local building codes forrecommendations. See Lightingfor more about recessed cans.10/23/085Insulation and Sealing Air Leakscost effectiveness. For more customizedinsulation recommendations, visit oursite, www.energy savers.gov, look forInsulation and check out the Zip CodeInsulation Calculator. This tool providesinsulation levels for y our new or existinghome based on y our zip code and otherbasic information about y our home.Although insulation can be made froma variety of materials, it usually comesin four ty pes; each ty pe has differentcharacteristics.7:37:07 PM

As specified on the productpackaging, follow the productinstructions on installation and wearthe proper protective gear wheninstalling insulation. Long-Term Savings Tip One of the most cost-effectiveways to make your home morecomfortable year-round is to addinsulation to your attic.Adding insulation to the attic isrelatively easy and very cost effective.To find out if you have enough atticinsulation, measure the thickness ofthe insulation. If it is less than R-30(11 inches of fiber glass or rock woolor 8 inches of cellulose), you couldprobably benefit by adding more. MostU.S. homes should have between R-30and R-60 insulation in the attic. Don’tforget the attic trap or access door.If your attic has enough insulation andyour home still feels drafty and cold inthe winter or too warm in the summer,chances are you need to add insulation tothe exterior walls as well. This is a moreexpensive measure that usually requiresa contractor, but it may be worth the costif you live in a very hot or cold climate.If you replace the exterior siding onyour home, you should consider addinginsulation at the same time.You may also need to add insulationto your crawl space or basement. Checkwith a professional contractor.U.S. Department of Energy Recommended* Total R-Valuesfor New Wood-Framed Houses764655433Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks22All of Alaska in Zone 7 except for thefollowing boroughs in Zone 8:BethelDellinghamFairbanks N. StarNomeNorth Slope6Northwest ArcticSoutheast FairbanksWade HamptonYukon-Koyukuk21Zone 1 includes Hawaii,Guam, Puerto Rico and theVirgin IslandsHow Much InsulationDoes My Home Need?For insulation recommendationstailored to your home, visit the DOE ZipCode Insulation Calculator at www.ornl.gov/ roofs/zip/ziphome.html.* These recommendations are cost-effective levels of insulation based on the best available informationon local fuel and materials costs and weather conditions. Consequently, the levels may differ fromcurrent local building codes.17736 bklet610/23/087:37:09 PM

R22 to R38R13 to R15NoneR13R30 to R60R22 to R38R13 to R15NoneR13R30 to R60R22 to R38R13 to R15NoneR19 - R25R30 to R60R22 to R38R13 to R15NoneR25R30 to R60R22 to R38R13 to R15R2.5 to R5R25R38 to R60R30 to R38R13 to R15R2.5 to R6R25 - R30R38 to R60R30 to R38R13 to R15R5 to R6R25 - R30R38 to R60R30 to R38R13 to R15R2.5 to R6R25 - R30 R38 to R60R30 to R60R13 to R21R5 to R6R25 - R30 45R30 to R49 34 23Floor2InsulationSheathing CavityFuel Oil Cathedral CeilingHeat Pump 5WallAtticGas1Radiant barriers (in hot climates),reflective insulation, and foundationinsulation should all be considered fornew home construction. Check withyour contractor for more informationabout these options.Electric FurnaceZoneFor new homes in most climates, youwill save money and energy if youinstall a combination of cavity insulationand insulative sheathing. Cavityinsulation can be installed at levelsup to R-15 in a 2 in. x 4 in. wall andup to R-21 in a 2 in. x 6 in. wall. Theinsulative sheathing, used in addition tothis cavity insulation, helps to reducethe energy that would otherwise belost through the wood frame. Thetable below shows the recommendedcombinations. For example, in Zone5, you could use either a 2x4 wall withR-13 or a 2x6 wall with R-21. For eitherof those two walls, you should also usean inch of insulative sheathing that hasan R-value of R-5 or R-6.Today, new products are on themarket that provide both insulationand structural support and should beconsidered for new home constructionor additions. Structural insulated panels,known as SIPs, and masonry productslike insulating concrete forms areamong these. Some homebuilders areeven using an old technique borrowedfrom the pioneers: building walls usingstraw bales. Check online at www.energysavers.gov for more informationon structural insulation.6 R49 to R60R30 to R60R13 to R21R5 to R6R25 - R307 R49 to R60R30 to R60R13 to R21R5 to R6R25 - R308 R49 to R60R30 to R60R13 to R21R5 to R6R25 - R30717736 bklet710/23/08Insulation and Sealing Air LeaksNew Construction7:37:09 PM

Sources of Air Leaks in Your HomeAreas that leak air into and out of your home cost you lots of money. Check the areas listed below.Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks1234Dropped ceilingRecessed lightAttic entranceSill plates5678Water and furnace fluesAll ductsDoor framesChimney flashingSealing Air LeaksWarm air leaking into y our homeduring the summer and out of y ourhome during the winter can waste alot of y our energy dollars. One of thequickest dollar-saving tasks y ou cando is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip allseams, cracks, and openings to theoutside. You can save on y our heatingand cooling bill by reducing the airleaks in y our home.9 Window frames10 Electrical outlets and switches11 Plumbing and utility accessTips for Sealing Air Leaks First, test y our home for air tightness.On a windy day ,y y , carefully hold a litincense stick or a smoke pen nextto y our windows, doors, electricalboxes, plumbing fixtures, electricaloutlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches,and other locations where there is apossible air path to the outside. If thesmoke stream travels horizontally ,y y ouy ,have located an air leak that may needcaulking, sealing, or weatherstripping.817736 bklet810/23/087:37:10 PM

917736 bklet910/23/08Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks Caulk and weatherstrip doors andElectric OutletsFans and Vents2%4%windows that leak air. Caulk and seal air leaks whereWindowsFloors, Walls,10%plumbing, ducting, or electricaland CeilingDoorswiring penetrates through walls,31%11%floors, ceilings, and soffits overcabinets.PlumbingPenetrationsDucts Install foam gaskets behind outlet13%Fireplace15%and switch plates on walls.14% Look for dirty spots in y ourinsulation, which often indicateHow Does the Air Escape?holes where air leaks into and outAir infiltrates into and out of your home throughof y our house. You can seal the holesevery hole and crack. About one-third of thiswith low-expansion spray foam madeair infiltrates through openings in your ceilings,for this purpose.walls, and floors. Look for dirty spots on y our ceilingpaint and carpet, which may indicate Replacing existing door bottomsair leaks at interior wall/ceiling jointsand thresholds with ones that haveand wall/floor joists. These joints canpliable sealing gaskets is a great way be caulked.to eliminate conditioned air leaking Install storm windows over single-paneout from underneath the doors.windows or replace them with more Fireplace flues are made from metal,efficient windows, such as doubleand over time repeated heating andpane. See Windows on page 18 forcooling can cause the metal to warpmore information.or break, creating a channel for hot When the fireplace is not in use, keepor cold air loss. Inflatable chimney the flue damper tightly closed. Aballoons are designed to fit beneathchimney is designed specifically fory our fireplace flue during periodssmoke to escape, so until y ou close it,of non-use. They are made fromwarm air escapes—24 hours a day !several lay ers of durable plastic andcan be removed easily and reused For new construction, reduce exteriorhundreds of times. Should y ouwall leaks by installing house wrap,forget to remove the balloon beforetaping the joints of exterior sheathing,making a fire, the balloon willand comprehensively caulking andautomatically deflate within secondssealing the exterior walls.of coming into contact with heat. Use foam sealant around larger gapsaround windows, baseboards, andother places where warm air may beleaking out. Kitchen exhaust fan covers cankeep air from leaking in when theexhaust fan is not in use. The coversty pically attach via magnets for ease ofreplacement.7:37:11 PM

Heating and CoolingHeating and cooling y our homeuses more energy and drainsmore energy dollars than any othersy stem in y ourour home. TTy pically ,y y , 46%of y our utility bill goes for heatingand cooling. What’s more, heatingand cooling sy stems in the UnitedStates together emit 150 million tonsof carbon dioxide into the atmosphereeach y ear, adding to global climatechange. They also generate about12% of the nation’s sulfur dioxide and4% of the nitrogen oxides, the chiefingredients in acid rain.Heating and CoolingNo matter what kind of heating,ventilation, and air-conditioningsy stem y ou have in y our house, y oucan save money and increase y ourcomfort by properly maintainingand upgrading y our equipment. Butremember, an energy -efficient furnacealone will not have as great an impacton y our energy bills as using thewhole-house approach. By combiningproper equipment maintenance andupgrades with appropriate insulation,air sealing, and thermostat settings,y ou can cut y our energy use forheating and cooling, and reduceenvironmental emissions, from 20%to 50%.Heating and Cooling Tips Set y our thermostat as low as iscomfortable in the winter andas high as is comfortable in thesummer. Clean or replace filters on furnacesonce a month or as needed. Clean warm-air registers, baseboardheaters, and radiators as needed;make sure they ’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes. Bleed trapped air from hot-waterradiators once or twice a season;if in doubt about how to performthis task, call a professional. Place heat-resistant radiatorreflectors between exterior wallsand the radiators. Turn off kitchen, bath, and otherexhaust fans within 20 minutes aftery ou are done cooking or bathing;when replacing exhaust fans,consider installing high-efficiency ,y y ,low-noise models. During the heating season, keep thedraperies and shades on y our southfacing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter y ourhome and closed at night to reducethe chill y ou may feel from coldwindows. During the cooling season, keep thewindow coverings closed during theday to prevent solar gain. Long-Term Savings Tips Select energy -efficient productswhen y ou buy new heating andcooling equipment. Your contractorshould be able to give y ou energy fact sheets for different types,models, and designs to help y ouOther9%Electricity30%FuelOil7%No Heating System1%Natural Gas53%Household Heating SystemsAlthough several different types of fuels areavailable to heat our homes, more than half of ususe natural gas.1017736 bklet1010/23/087:37:11 PM

Air DuctsOne of the most important systems inyour home, though it’s hidden beneathyour feet and over your head, may bewasting a lot of your energy dollars.Your home’s duct system, a branchingnetwork of tubes in the walls, floors, andceilings, carries the air from your home’sfurnace and central air conditioner toeach room. Ducts are made of sheetmetal, fiberglass, or other materials.Unfortunately, many duct systemsare poorly insulated or not insulatedproperly. Ducts that leak heated airinto unheated spaces can add hundredsof dollars a year to your heating andcooling bills. Insulating ducts that arein unconditioned spaces is usually verycost effective. If you are buying a newduct system, consider one that comeswith insulation already installed.Sealing your ducts to prevent leaks iseven more important if the ducts arelocated in an unconditioned area suchas an attic or vented crawl space. Ifthe supply 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.In the summer, hot attic air can bedrawn in, increasing the load on the airconditioner. In the winter, your furnacewill have to work longer to keep yourhouse comfortable. Either way, yourenergy losses cost you money.Although minor duct repairs areeasy to make, ducts in unconditionedspaces should be sealed and insulatedby qualified professionals usingappropriate sealing materials. Hereare a few simple tips to help withminor duct repairs.Duct Tips Check your ducts for air leaks.First, look for sections that shouldbe joined but have separated andthen look for obvious holes. If you use tape to seal your ducts,avoid cloth-backed, rubber adhesiveduct tape, which tends to failquickly. Researchers recommendother products to seal ducts: mastic,butyl tape, foil tape, or other heatapproved tapes. Look for tape withthe Underwriters Laboratories logo. Remember that insulating ductsin the basement will make thebasement colder. If both theducts and the basement walls areuninsulated, consider insulatingboth. Water pipes and drains inunconditioned spaces could freezeand burst in the space if the heatducts are fully insulated, becausethere would be no heat source toprevent the space from freezing incold weather. However, using anelectric heating tape wrap on thepipes can prevent this. Check with aprofessional contractor.1117736 bklet1110/23/08Heating and Coolingcompare energy usage. For furnaces,look for high Annual Fuel UtilizationEfficiency (AFUE) ratings. Thenational minimum is 78% AFUE, butthere are ENERGY STAR models onthe market that exceed 90% AFUE. For air conditioners, look for a highSeasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio(SEER). The current minimum is 13SEER for central air conditioners.ENERGY STAR models are 14SEER or more.7:37:11 PM

Ducts—Out-of-Sight, Out-of-MindThe unsealed ducts in your attic and crawlspaces lose air, and uninsulated ducts lose heat, wastingenergy and money. If y our basement has been convertedto a living area, hire a professionalto install both supply and returnregisters in the basement rooms. Be sure a well-sealed vaporbarrier exists on the outside ofthe insulation on cooling ducts toprevent moisture buildup. When doing ductwork, be sure toget professional help. ChangesHeating and CoolingInstall a Carbon Monoxide DetectorCarbon monoxide (CO) detectors arehighly recommended in homes withfuel-burning appliances, such as naturalgas furnaces, stoves, ovens, and waterheaters, and fuel-burning space heaters.An alarm signals homeowners if COreaches potentially dangerous levels.and repairs to a duct sy stem shouldalway s be performed by a qualifiedprofessional. Ducts that don’t work properly cancreate serious, life-threatening carbonmonoxide (CO) problems in thehome. Install a CO monitor to alerty ou to harmful CO levels if y ou havea fuel-burning furnace, stove or otherappliance, or an attached garage. Long-Term Savings Tip YouY can lose up to 60% of y our heatedair before it reaches the register ify our ducts aren’t insulated and travelthrough unheated spaces such as theattic or crawlspace. Get a qualifiedprofessional to help y ou insulateand repair ducts.1217736 bklet1210/23/087:37:12 PM

Heat pumps are the most efficient formof electric heating in moderate climates,providing three times more heating thanthe equivalent amount of energy theyconsume in electricity. There are threetypes of heat pumps: air-to-air, watersource, and ground source. They collectheat from the air, water, or groundoutside your home and concentrate it foruse inside. Heat pumps do double dutyas a central air conditioner. They canalso cool your home by collecting theheat inside your house and effectivelypumping it outside. A heat pump cantrim the amount of electricity you use forheating by as much as 30% to 40%.Heat Pump Tips Do not set back the heat pump’sthermostat manually if it causes theelectric resistance heating to come on.This type of heating, which is oftenused as a backup to the heat pump,is more expensive. Clean or change filters once a monthor as needed, and maintain thesystem according to manufacturer’sinstructions. Long-Term Savings Tip If you use electricity to heat yourhome and live in a moderate climate,consider installing an energy- efficientheat pump system.Solar Heating and CoolingUsing passive solar design techniques toheat and cool your home can beboth environmentally friendly andcost effective. Passive solar heatingtechniques include placing larger,insulated windows on south-facing wallsand locating thermal mass, such as aconcrete slab floor or a heat-absorbingwall, close to the windows. In manycases, your heating costs could be morethan 50% lower than the cost of heatingthe same house that does not includepassive solar design.Passive solar design can also help reduceyour cooling costs. Passive solar coolingtechniques include carefully designedoverhangs, windows with reflectivecoatings, and reflective coatings onexterior walls and the roof.A passive solar house requires carefuldesign and site orientation, whichdepend on the local climate. So, if youare considering passive solar design fornew construction or a major remodeling,you should consult an architect familiarwith passive solar techniques.Solar Tips Keep all south-facing glass clean. Make sure that objects do not blockthe sunlight shining on concrete slabfloors or heat-absorbing walls.Natural Gas and Oil HeatingIf you plan to buy a new heating system,ask your local utility or state energyoffice for information about the latesttechnologies available to consumers.They can advise you about moreefficient systems on the market today.For example, many newer modelsincorporate designs for burners andheat exchangers that result in higherefficiencies during operation and reduceheat los

read the valuable tips in this booklet to start saving energy and money today. To learn more about U.S. Department of Energy programs in energy efficiency and renewable energy, visit the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s web site at www.eere.