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The BIG 3: Floors, Walls & Ceilings
Photo by Matthew G. Bisanz
Walls, Ceilings, and Floors account for 31% of home energy loss.
The reason for floors, walls and ceiling being the BIGGEST, most significant energy drains is fairly clear: they are what make a house a house. It is inevitable that they develop holes, gaps, cracks, and other weaknesses that lead to reduced safety, comfort, and efficiency. As with most other problems in life, there are steps you can take to deal with these weaknesses. Sealing and insulating.
But first, problem areas must be identified. One way to locate them is by scheduling a Home Energy Audit with a company like America’s Best Energy Team. They will send an auditor to your mobile home, single home, multi-family dwelling, or townhouse to conduct a series of tests, including a Blower Door Test, a Combustion Analysis, and a Thermographic Scan. Once the audit is completed, it will be clear where the most energy is being used and lost, and how air is flowing through your home. Working with the results can benefit your health, comfort, carbon footprint, energy bills, and the value of your home.
If you have already located a few of these weaknesses in your Basement, Attic, or Crawlspace, then you can begin making your house more energy efficient. Products such as weather strips, caulk and other sealants can be found at any home improvement store, and the instructions are straight forward: apply, then let dry. Seal those leaks!
Remember, there are two sides to every wall. Not all air leaks are so obvious as you may think, especially because they tend to develop in areas that you do not see everyday or areas that are difficult to access. Use your senses. Energy.gov offers this helpful hint: “On a windy day, carefully hold a lit incense stick or a smoke pen next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and other places where air may leak.” (Detecting Air Leaks) If the smoke is pulled to one direction, you found what you were looking for. Caution: performing this test with a candle or other open flame can be hazardous, primarily around appliances that run on or expel gas, as well as areas of the home that are used for storage or may develop gas leaks or accumulate dust.
Sealing holes, cracks, and gaps is priority number one. This provides for maximum efficiency when insulation is added later. Insulation is priority number two, and it only works when it is impeding the flow of air, meaning leaks should already be sealed inside and out.
One important thing to know about insulation, it gets old and out-dated. In some homes it was never installed correctly to begin with or it gets moved around during repairs. There should be four to six inches of non-compacted or loose insulation. New materials are being developed all the time, such as shredded jeans. That’s right, your old clothes can become a greener alternative to the highly processed materials that insulate most houses. Fiberglass, cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam are all commonly installed in homes located in moderate climates. Radiant barrier, or reflective insulation, is used to save energy in hotter climates. Asbestos is another insulator. If it’s in your house, get out of there! That stuff notoriously causes cancer. What all these materials have in common though is their system of measure, identified by a numbered R value. The R stands for resistance to heat flow, and a higher value means a stronger resistance to undesirable heat gain and heat loss.
Now that you’ve got some knowledge under your cap, you can work towards the level of safety, comfort, and efficiency you want.
By Nick Ring.
The BIG 3
Image by Itzuvit.
People have various motivations for wanting to conserve energy. Some people want to do their part in keeping the planet healthy. Others want to have more comfortable living spaces. Some people are following the trend. And still others just want to bring down their energy bill as low as possible.
No matter your motivation, energy conservation is an awesome idea! It’s one of the few win-win-win scenarios that I’ve ever encountered!
America’s Best Energy Team does us all a favor by organizing a breakdown of where energy is lost in the home. If you look at the list on this page, you will notice that every aspect of your home is a potential “energy drain.” From the shingles on your roof to the pipes coming into your basement, there are gaps and weaknesses that seed from improper installations or from weathering and the simple passage of time. The good news is you can do something about it! But where to start?
I can help guide you by introducing you to The BIG 3. The BIG 3 locations where homes lose the most energy include:
1. Floors, Walls and Ceilings (Yes, I know that’s what a house is.) account for 31% of home energy loss.
2. HVAC Ducts account for 15% of home energy loss.
3. Fireplaces account for 14% of home energy loss.
These numbers are not steadfast, they are averages provided to ABET by the Department of Energy. The easiest way to get the real numbers for your residence is by scheduling a Home Energy Audit. Companies like America’s Best Energy Team conduct Home Energy Audits, a thorough investigation of a home’s energy efficiency. Through a series of tests including a Blower Door Test, Thermographic Scan, and a Combustion Analysis of appliances. These tests will identify where your home is losing energy, where drafts enter, and how safely and effectively air and gases are ventilated throughout the house. The only requirement for scheduling a Home Energy Audit is that the property be a mobile home, single home, multi-family dwelling, or townhouse. If you are a renter, written permission from your landlord must be provided before audits are conducted. If written permission is difficult to obtain or you do not live in one of the previously mentioned residences, a QHEC or Quick Home Energy Check can be conducted for free and is appropriate for any type of home.
Image by Itzuvit.
By Nick Ring.
To read more about The BIG 3, check out these detailed blog posts.
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