The Crucial Role of Thermal Insulation

Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes in Milford CT. Insulation saves money and our nation's limited energy resources. It can also make your house more comfortable by helping to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the house. Walls, ceilings, and floors will be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Insulation can also act as a sound absorber or barrier, keeping noise levels down, important for those living close to neighbors (waterfront homes in Milford CT) or teenage (and older) music.

 

It is possible to add insulation to almost any house. You may be able to do the job yourself if the structural framing is accessible--for instance, in unfinished attics or under the floor over an unheated space. Or, you may prefer to hire an insulation contractor. In either case, it is important to choose and install the insulation correctly.

The amount of energy you conserve will depend on several factors: your local climate; the size, shape, and construction of your house; the living habits of your family; the type and efficiency of the heating and cooling systems; and the fuel you use. Once the energy savings have paid for the installation cost, energy conserved is money saved--and the annual savings will increase if utility rates go up.

 

Insulation Priorities (Visit  eere energy for more information)
It is most important to:

  • Insulate your attic to the recommended level, including the attic door, or hatch cover.
  • Provide the recommended level of insulation under floors above unheated spaces, around walls in a heated basement or unventilated crawl space, and on the edges of slabs-on-grade.
  • Use the recommended levels of insulation for exterior walls for new house construction. When remodeling or re-siding your house, consider using the levels recommended for new construction in your existing walls.

For more information on insulation visit Department of Energy
Assistant Secretary
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

About ENERGYguide

The Company Behind ENERGYguide.com

ENERGYguide is your unbiased guide to the myriad of energy options that are available to you. With ENERGYguide, you will learn how to lower your energy bills by replacing equipment in your home or business, changing the way you use energy, or selecting a different electric or gas supplier if you live in a deregulated state. You will also learn how your choices impact the environment.

 

ENERGYguide is operated by Nexus Energy Software. which was founded in 1997 by individuals with extensive experience in energy efficiency, energy information systems, consumer marketing, multimedia educational software and Internet commerce.

 

Draft-proof Your House – Seal Up and Save On Energy Bills

No matter how baffling the energy situation is, homeowners are definitely seeing its results in skyrocketing energy bills. It makes homeowners scramble to button up their older houses against both blustery winters and humidity-laden summers. If you know where your home has leaks, you can seal it up to keep out humidity and cold.

Drafts Diagnostic: A Candle and a Hair Dryer

You can use a candle and hairdryer to determine where your home has drafts - it’s not exactly high-tech, but it works. You need two people: one on the outside directing the air from the blow dryer through door jambs and at window frames. The other person follows on the inside with a candle. A candle that flickers or goes out indicates a draft opening that you should seal with weather stripping or caulk.

Caulk and Weather Stripping

Caulking around the frames is no big deal. Buy tubes of caulk in the same color as the trim, lay in a bead of caulk and smooth it with a finger.

Here are some tips for weather stripping window sashes and exterior doors:

  • Weather stripping: There are many weather stripping products. Thin spring metal weather strips work well because they're long-lasting and barely visible when installed. Cut them to length with tin snips and tack in place. After tacking, lift the outer edge of the strip with a screwdriver for a better seal.
  • Door sweeps: Screw door sweeps to the inside bottom of front and back doors to cover the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor.
  • Insulate: Insulate the attic access panel.
  • Drafts: Check newer windows and doors for drafts as well. If an oil or resin caulk was used, it may have pulled loose in as little as one year, depending on expansion and contraction caused by weather extremes.
  • Caulking: Caulk around foundation walls, pipe outlets, the clothes dryer vent and any other gaps on the outside of the house.
  • Draft blockers: Air infiltration from electric switch and plug outlets can also be significant, so it's smart to insert draft blockers. They're inexpensive and readily available at hardware stores and home centers.
  • Weatherstrip overhead doors of attached garages.

 

Other Ways to Reduce Energy Costs

Here are some more simple and low-cost recommendations to help cut energy costs.

  • Cold weather: During cold weather, set the thermostat at 68 degrees F and leave it alone during the day. Overnight, lower setting by 5-10 degrees. Make sure the thermostat isn't affected by drafts that will give an incorrect reading.
  • Hot weather: During hot weather, set the thermostat at 78 degrees F when you're home and lower it a bit a night.
  • Windows: Develop energy-saving window habits: In the winter, open curtains or shades of east, south and west-facing windows on sunny days to let the sun heat the house. Close them at night to preserve heat. Keep the draperies closed all day on north-facing windows. Do just the opposite in summer.
  • Unused rooms: Turn the heat down in rooms you don't use. And turn the air conditioning off in those rooms or close vents in the summer.
  • Energy surveys: Check with your utility company to see if they offer free home inspections and energy surveys.