Energy Savers: Tips On Saving Energy And Money At Home - Michael C. Burgess

Although insulation can be made froma variety of materials, it usually comesin four types; each type has differentcharacteristics.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 made offiberglass, rock wool, or cellulose—comes in shreds, granules, or nodules.These small particles should be blowninto spaces using special pneumaticequipment. The blown-in materialconforms readily to building cavities andattics. Therefore, loose-fill insulation iswell suited for places where it is difficultto install other types of insulation.Rigid foam insulation—foam insulationtypically is more expensive than fiberinsulation. But it’s very 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 (2.54 cm),which is up to 2 times greater than mostother insulating materials of the samethickness.Foam-in-place insulation—can be blowninto walls and reduces air leakage.Should I Insulate My Home?The answer is probably “yes” if you: Have an older home and haven’tadded insulation. Only 20% ofhomes built before 1980 are wellinsulated. Are uncomfortably cold in thewinter or hot in the summer—adding insulation creates a moreuniform temperature and increasescomfort. Build a new home, addition, orinstall new siding or roofing. Pay high energy bills. Are bothered by noise fromoutside—insulation muffles sound.Insulation Tips Consider factors such as yourclimate, building design, and budgetwhen selecting insulation R-valuesfor your home. Use higher density insulation, suchas rigid foam boards, in cathedralceilings and on exterior walls. Ventilation plays a large role inproviding moisture control andreducing summer cooling bills.Attic vents can be installed alongthe entire ceiling cavity to helpensure proper airflow from the soffitto the attic to make a home morecomfortable and energy efficient.Check with a qualified contractor. Recessed light fixtures can be amajor source of heat loss, but youneed to be careful how close youplace insulation next to a fixtureunless it is marked IC—designedfor direct insulation contact. Checkyour local building codes forrecommendations. See Lightingfor more about recessed cans.5Insulation and Sealing Air Leakswhich are based on cost effectiveness.For more customized insulationrecommendations, visitwww.energysavers.gov and check outthe Zip Code Insulation Calculator,which lists the most economic insulationlevels for your new or existing homebased on your zip code and other basicinformation about your home.

As specified on the productpackaging, follow the productinstructions on installation and wearthe proper protective gear wheninstalling insulation. When shopping for insulation, lookfor the ENERGY STAR.(7 inches of fiber glass or rock woolor 6 inches of cellulose), you couldprobably benefit by adding more. MostU.S. homes should have between R-22and R-49 insulation in the attic.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. 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-22You may also need to add insulationto your crawl space. Either the walls orthe floor above the crawl space shouldbe insulated.U.S. Department of Energy Recommended* Total R-Valuesfor New Houses in Six Climate Zones23112215536Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks24344How Much InsulationDoes My Home Need?2646For insulation recommendationstailored to your home, visit the DOEZip Code Insulation Calculator atwww.ornl.gov/ roofs/zip/ziphome.html.* These recommendations are cost-effective levels of insulation based on the best available information02477401mon local fuel and materials costs and weather conditions. Consequently, the levels may differfromcurrent local building codes. In addition, the apparent fragmentation of the recommendations is anartifact of these data and should not be considered absolute minimum requirements.

New ConstructionToday, new products are on themarket that provide both insulationand structural support and should beconsidered for new home constructionor additions. Structural insulatedpanels, known as SIPS, and masonryproducts like insulating concrete formsare among these. Some homebuildersare even using an old techniqueborrowed from the pioneers, buildingwalls using straw bales. Check onlineat www.energysavers.gov for moreinformation on structural insulation.For new construction or homeadditions, R-11 to R-28 insulationis recommended for exterior wallsdepending on location (see map). Tomeet this recommendation, most homesand additions constructed with 2 in.x 4 in. walls require a combination ofwall cavity insulation, such as battsand insulating sheathing or rigid foamboards. If you live in an area with aninsulation recommendation that isgreater than R-20, you may want toconsider building with 2 in. x 6 in.framing instead of 2 in. x 4 in. framingto allow room for thicker wall cavityinsulation—R-19 to R-21.Radiant barriers (in hot climates),reflective insulation, and foundationinsulation should all be considered fornew home construction. Check withyour contractor for more informationabout these options. 7Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks

Souces of Air Leaks in Your HomeInsulation and Sealing Air LeaksAreas that leak air into and out of your home cost you lots of money. Check the areas listed below.1234Dropped ceilingRecessed lightAttic entranceSill plates5678Water and furnace fluesAll ductsDoor framesChimney flashingSealing Air LeaksWarm air leaking into your homeduring the summer and out of yourhome during the winter can waste alot of your energy dollars. One of thequickest dollar-saving tasks you cando is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip allseams, cracks, and openings to theoutside. You can save 10% or more onyour energy bill by reducing the airleaks in your home.89 Window frames10 Electrical outlets and switches11 Plumbing and utility accessTips for Sealing Air Leaks First, test your home for air tightness.On a windy day, hold a lit incense sticknext to your 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, youhave located an air leak that may needcaulking, sealing, or weatherstripping.

Plumbing Windowspenetrations 10%13%Doors11%DuctsFans and vents15%4%FireplaceElectric14%outlets2% Floors, walls,and ceiling31%How Does the Air Escape?02477404mAir infiltrates into and out of your home throughevery hole, nook, and cranny. About one-thirdof this air infiltrates through openings in yourceilings, walls, and floors.9Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks Caulk and weatherstrip doors andwindows that leak air. Caulk and seal air leaks whereplumbing, ducting, or electricalwiring penetrates through exteriorwalls, floors, ceilings, and soffits overcabinets. Install rubber gaskets behind outlet andswitch plates on exterior walls. Look for dirty spots in your insulation,which often indicate holes where airleaks into and out of your house. Youcan seal the holes by stapling sheets ofplastic over the holes and caulking theedges of the plastic. Install storm windows over single-panewindows or replace them with doublepane windows. See Windows on page18 for more information. When the fireplace is not in use, keepthe flue damper tightly closed. Achimney is designed specifically forsmoke to escape, so until you close it,warm air escapes—24 hours a day! For new construction, reduce exteriorwall leaks by either installing housewrap, taping the joints of exteriorsheathing, or comprehensivelycaulking and sealing the exterior walls.

Heating and CoolingHeating and cooling your homeuses more energy and drainsmore energy dollars than anyother system in your home. Typically,56% of your utility bill goes forheating and cooling. What’s more,heating and cooling systems in theUnited States together emit over a halfbillion tons of carbon dioxide into theatmosphere each year, adding to globalwarming. They also generate about24% of the nation’s sulfur dioxide and12% of the nitrogen oxides, the chiefingredients in acid rain.Heating and CoolingNo matter what kind of heating,ventilation, and air-conditioningsystem you have in your house, youcan save money and increase yourcomfort by properly maintainingand upgrading your equipment. Butremember, an energy-efficient furnacealone will not have as great an impacton your energy bills as using thewhole-house approach. By combiningproper equipment maintenance andupgrades with appropriate insulation,air sealing, and thermostat settings,you can cut your energy bills andyour pollution output in half.Heating and Cooling Tips Set your 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 byfurniture, carpeting, or drapes. Bleed trapped air from hot-waterradiators once or twice a season; ifin doubt about how to perform thistask, call a professional.10 Place heat-resistant radiatorreflectors between exterior walls andthe radiators. Turn off kitchen, bath, and otherexhaust fans within 20 minutes afteryou are done cooking or bathing;when replacing exhaust fans,consider installing high-efficiency,low-noise models. During the heating season, keep thedraperies and shades on your southfacing windows open during the dayto allow the sunlight to enter yourhome and closed at night to reducethe chill you 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 you buy new heating andcooling equipment. Your contractorshould be able to give you energyfact sheets for different types,models, and designs to help youHousehold Heating SystemsAlthough several different types of fuels are availableto heat our homes, more than half of us use naturalgas.

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, fiber glass, 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 leaksis even more important if the ductsare located in an unconditionedarea such as an attic or vented crawlspace. If the supply ducts are leaking,heated or cooled air can be forced outunsealed 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 theair conditioner. In the winter, yourfurnace will have to work longer tokeep your house comfortable. Eitherway, your energy losses cost youmoney.Although minor duct repairs are easyto do, ducts in unconditioned spacesshould be sealed and insulated byqualified professionals using theappropriate sealing materials. Here area few simple tips to help with minorduct 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.** Note: Water pipes and drains in unconditionedspaces could freeze and burst in the space ifthe heat ducts are fully insulated, because therewould be no heat source to prevent the spacefrom freezing in cold weather. However, usingan electric heating tape wrap on the pipes canprevent this.11Heating 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 is10 SEER, increasing to 13 SEERin January 2006 for central airconditioners. ENERGY STAR modelsare 12 SEER or more. The AmericanCouncil for an Energy-EfficientEconomy lists the energy performanceof the most energy-efficient furnaces,boilers, AC units, and heat pumps onits web site: www.aceee.org.

If your 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. Changes andrepairs to a duct system shouldalways be performed by a qualifiedprofessional. Ducts that don’t work properlycan create serious, life-threateningcarbon monoxide (CO) problems inthe home. Install a CO monitor toalert you to harmful CO levels if youhave a fuel-burning furnace, stoveor other appliance, or an attachedgarage. For new construction, considerplacing ducts in conditionedspace—space that is heated andcooled—instead of running ductsthrough unconditioned areas likethe crawlspace or attic, which is lessefficient.They collect heat from the air, water,or ground outside your home andconcentrate it for use inside. Heatpumps do double duty as a central airconditioner. They can also cool yourhome by collecting the heat insideyour house and effectively pumpingit outside. A heat pump can trim theamount of electricity you use forheating by as much as 30% to 40%. Long-Term Savings Tip You can lose up to 60% of yourheated air before it reaches theregister if your ducts aren’tinsulated and they travel throughunheated spaces such as the atticor crawlspace. Get a qualifiedprofessional to help you insulateand repair ducts.Using passive solar design techniquesto heat and cool your home can beboth environmentally friendly andcost effective. Passive solar heatingtechniques include placing larger,insulated windows on south-facingwalls and locating thermal mass,such as a concrete slab floor or aheat-absorbing wall, close to thewindows. In many cases, you can cutyour heating costs by more than 50%compared with the cost of heatingthe same house that does not includepassive solar design.Heating and CoolingHeat PumpsHeat pumps are the most efficientform of electric heating in moderateclimates, providing three times moreheating than the equivalent amountof energy they consume in electricity.There are three types of heat pumps:air-to-air, water source, and groundsource.12Heat Pump Tips Do not set back the heat pump’sthermostat manually if it causes theelectric resistance heating to comeon. This type of heating, which isoften used as a backup to the heatpump, 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 energyefficient heat pump system.Solar Heating and CoolingPassive solar design can also helpreduce your cooling costs. Passivesolar cooling techniques includecarefully designed overhangs,

windows with reflective coatings, andthe use of reflective coatings on exteriorwalls and the roof.Solar Tips Keep all south-facing glass clean. Make sure that objects do not blockthe sunlight shining on concrete slabfloors or heat-absorbing walls.FireplacesWhen you cozy up next to a cracklingfire on a cold winter day, you probablydon’t realize that your fireplace is oneof the most inefficient heat sources youcan possibly use. It literally sends yourenergy dollars right up the chimneyalong with volumes of warm air. Aroaring fire can exhaust as much as24,000 cubic feet of air per hour to theoutside, which must be replaced bycold air coming into the house from theoutside. Your heating system must warmup this air, which is then exhaustedthrough your chimney. If you use yourconventional fireplace while your centralheating system is on, these tips can helpreduce energy losses.Fireplace Tips If you never use your fireplace,plug and seal the chimney flue. Keep your fireplace damper closedunless a fire is going. Keeping thedamper open is like keeping a windowwide open during the winter; it allowswarm air to go right up the chimney. When you use the fireplace, reduceheat loss by opening dampers in thebottom of the firebox (if provided) or Natural Gas and Oil HeatingSystemsIf you plan to buy a new heatingsystem, ask your local utility or stateenergy office for information aboutthe latest technologies available toconsumers. They can advise you aboutmore efficient systems on the markettoday. For example, many newermodels incorporate designs for burnersand heat exchangers that result inhigher efficiencies during operation andreduce heat loss when the equipmentis off. Consider a sealed combustionfurnace; they are both safer and moreefficient. Check the shopping guide inthe back of this booklet for additionalinformation on how to understandheating system ratings. Long-Term Savings Tip Install a new energy-efficientfurnace to save money over the longterm. Look for the E

32 Renewable Energy 33 References To learn more about DOE programs in energy efficiency and renewable energy, visit the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's web site at www.eere.energy.gov "High energy costs can really pinch American families. While the Department of Energy is working hard to develop new technologies to