Weatherization: Making Your Home Energy Efficient

Whether your home was built a century ago or completed yesterday, it's not too late for you and your family to enjoy the benefits of weatherization.

By following a two step process: sealing air leaks first, then adding extra insulation, you will be making big energy-saving improvements.

President Obama is even urging Americans to weatherize their homes. Take a look at this recent article in which he calls weatherization a "win, win" situation.

Air leaks alone can account for an incredibly large amount of a home's energy loss.

According to Energy Star, if you add up all the hidden air leaks in your home, they can equal a hole the size of an open window. That's pretty significant.

Air leaks are typically found around or behind:

• Windows and doors



• Kneewalls



• Attic Hatches



• Wiring Holes



• Plumbing Vents



• Open Soffits



• Recessed Lights



• Furnace Flues or Duct Chaseways



• Basement Rim Joists (where the foundation meets the wood framing)

By sealing these leaks, you will be making your home energy efficient, your home will feel more comfortable, and your energy bills will be reduced.

Adding insulation is the second important step toward making your home energy efficient.

Insulation helps keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Because it works best when air is not moving through or around it, it is important to seal air leaks before installing insulation to insure that you get the best performance.

Many older attics are typically insulated with fiberglass batts which, in most cases, are not performing well.

For fiberglass batt insulation to perform at its rated level, it must not have any gaps or voids around it.

"Tune up" your insulation by making sure that it is snug to the ceiling surface and to the edges of the framing, then adding more insulation.

Covering the fiberglass batts in your attic with more of the same stuff "fails to restore the lost
R-value" that naturally occurs with fiberglass.

Researchers have found that when you "cap" your loose-fill fiberglass with cellulose, it not only adds R-value, it actually restores the effective R-value thay fiberglass loses during cold weather.

Foam insulation is another upgrade possibility that is increasing in popularity. It is also incredibly energy efficient, resulting in up to 50% savings on home energy bills.

Learn more about making your home more energy efficient at EnergyStar.com.

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