| You can conduct your own home energy audit to | | | | While you're poking around your attic, be sure the |
| reduce your energy bill. Energy prices are rising | | | | pipes, ductwork and chimney is sealed as well. |
| rapidly due to the natural disasters that hit the | | | | Expanding foam caulk is an excellent sealant for |
| U.S. Gulf Coast and disrupted oil well operations. | | | | these areas. |
| Here's four areas you can easily assess for | | | | Do you have an adequate vapor barrier in your |
| energy savings. | | | | attic? Some possible barriers are tar paper, Kraft |
| Find Air Leaks In Your Home: | | | | paper, or plastic sheeting. If you don't have vapor |
| Did you know you can increase your energy | | | | barrier material, you can paint the interior ceilings |
| savings 5 - 30% per year just by plugging air | | | | with a vapor barrier paint. Vapor barriers reduce |
| leaks in your home? Here's how youinvestigate air | | | | moisture. Less moisture increases insulation |
| leaks and plug them. | | | | effectiveness and decreases structural damage. |
| Check for air gaps along floor edges and | | | | Don't block your attic vents with insulation. Seal |
| baseboards. Look for air gaps around: | | | | electrical boxes with caulk and cover your attic |
| - Electrical outlets | | | | floor with the recommended amount of insulation. |
| - Switch plates | | | | Don't forget to check your basement. If it's not |
| - Door weatherstripping | | | | heated, be sure your living room floor has |
| - Window frames | | | | insulation underneath it. In many parts of the U.S., |
| - Attic hatches | | | | the insulation R value should be 25. If your |
| - Fireplace dampers | | | | basement is heated, the insulation R value should |
| - Window or wall-mounted air conditioners | | | | be 19. Consult with your local home improvement |
| Here's other places where air leaks drive up your | | | | store for more details. |
| energy bill: | | | | Furnaces, Heat Pumps, and Air Conditioners: |
| - Pipes | | | | Proper maintenance of your furnace, heat pump, |
| - Wires | | | | and air conditioning unit will do two things: it'll |
| - Mail slots | | | | extend the life of the system, and each unit will |
| Poorly done caulking and weather stripping are | | | | operate at peak energy efficiency. Be sure to |
| prime locations for air leaks. Run your hand along | | | | replace system filters monthly with forced-air |
| these areas to see if you can feel any drafts. | | | | furnance systems. |
| Inspect all doors and windows. If you can rattle | | | | This is a simple maintenance task anyone can do, |
| them, movement indicates possible air leaks. Can | | | | but if you forget to do it, expensive repairs could |
| you see light coming through windows frames? If | | | | be necessary. |
| so, that's an air leak you can plug. | | | | Is your furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump |
| Be sure your storm windows are properly closed | | | | more than 15 years old? If so, you should |
| and fit well. If you can't afford to replace old | | | | seriously consider replacing the system, since new |
| ones, tape plastic sheeting over them for the | | | | units are very energy efficient. If your current |
| winter to cut down on air leakage. | | | | system is in poor condition, a new one will reduce |
| You can also check the outside of your home for | | | | your energy consumption and energy bills. |
| air leaks. Look at the exterior corners, and where | | | | Insulate your ductwork and pipes in unheated |
| your siding and chimneymeet. Plug and caulk any | | | | spaces with insulation material that has an R value |
| gaps you see in these areas. Look where your | | | | of at least 16. |
| house foundation and the bottom of your brick or | | | | Lighting: |
| siding meet. If you see holes there, seal and/or | | | | Inspect the wattage size of your light bulbs. If |
| caulk them to shut off the leak. | | | | you're using 100-watt bulbs when 60 or 75 watt |
| Insulation: | | | | light bulbs will do, swap them out. Fluorescent |
| If your home is not properly insulated, you'll suffer | | | | lighting is a good energy efficient method for lights |
| enormous heating and air conditioning loss. Since | | | | that are on for hours at a time. Check with your |
| energy prices are rising, you may wish to | | | | local electric company to see if they offer |
| evaluate the present insulation in your home, and | | | | rebates or incentives for using energy-efficient |
| figure out if you need to replace or add to the | | | | lighting. |
| insulation. | | | | Doing these four simple energy audits are easy. |
| Check out your attic insulation, particularly around | | | | They don't take up a whole lot of time, but they |
| the attic hatch. Make sure it closes tightly and is | | | | can certainly reduce yourenergy bills and make |
| properly weather stripped. | | | | your home more energy efficient. |