Insulation & Weatherization
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Insulation comes in a variety of different forms (e.g., batts and blankets, rigid board, and loose fill). The different types are useful for different situations.
- Batts
- Composition: Fiberglass or rock wool
- Purpose: Fit between the studs in walls or between the joists of ceilings or floors.
- Rolls or blankets
- Composition: Fiberglass
- Purpose: Laid over the floor in an attic.
- Loose-fill
- Composition: Fiberglass, rock wool or cellulose
- Purpose: Poured in or blown in to spaces.
Sealing Air and Moisture Leaks
Air leaks between in your home will cost you energy and money. The amount of air leaked in a typical U.S. home is eqivilant to leaving a window wide open. To prevent this drain on your finances, consider doing the following:
- Weatherstrip all doors and windows
- Caulk or seal all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside.
In addition to caulking and weatherguarding, dealing with moisture is also an important part of energy efficiency. This is because moist insulation has a lower R-value than dry insulation. Hence, your house will be less insulated and energy efficient. To deal with this proglem, consider do the following:
- Seal air leaks around electrical outlets, switches, and other penetrations through the conditioned portion of your building. For example, if a hot water pipe goes from your unheated basement up into your heated kitchen, purchase a grout or sealants to plug the gaps around pipes.
Weatherizing Doors
First, test the extent to which your door allows air in. Do this by feeling around the edges of the door. To deal with any air leaks, do the following:
- Apply caulking around the door frame.
- Apply weatherstripping around the door opening.
- If the door is cracked or warpe, consider replacing it.
Window Management
Poor windows can be very costly. In order to improve the energy efficiency of your windows, take the following steps:
- Apply caulking to gaps around the frames.
- Apply weatherstripping to the sashes.
- Consider replacing your windows. New, energy efficnent windows, when purchased at a good price to replace a poor window can be very valuable.
External Referral: For more information on insulation, see the U.S. Government reccomendations. For more on efficient windows, see http://www.efficientwindows.org.
