A message from Our Founder

Icicles, Cracks, Gaps and Other Indicators

On average, Americans invest more than 20% of their overall energy use in heating and cooling their homes and offices. That's thousands of gallons, cubic feet, and kilowatt hours of energy dedicated to keeping our bodies surrounded by an ambient 65-75 degrees. Given our collective investment in comfort, the least we can do is to use that energy efficiently. By using a thermal imaging camera at my home to objectively identify inefficiencies in heating and cooling, ChooseRenewables has identified five things you can do to heat and cool more efficiently. We're sharing the first here with you. Click here to read the full article online.

1. FILL THE CRACKS
Gaps and cracks in the exterior of a building allow preciously treated air to escape and wasteful warm or cool air to enter your conditioned environment. SEE THE EVIDENCE: The bright orange line [pictured at right] indicates a significant amount of heat leaving my home. You can see that the surface temperature of the well-insulated siding is about 9 degrees, while the crack in the awning is over 30 degrees. Here's the indicator: The two small, dark marks [pictured at right] indicate cracks. A closer inspection shows a clear crack between both boards. The solution: Fill the crack with insulating foam like Great Stuff.

Click Here to see all 5 things you can do to heat more effciently and save money on your gas bills this winter as well as get some great advice and tips!

 

DOE Weatherization Facts

The Department of Energy estimates over 6.2 million homes have been weatherized with DOE funds since the department's inception in 1976. In 2009 alone, an estimated 1,000,000 homes will be weatherized with DOE funds. Low-income families will realize greater comfort and additional disposable income, saving over $400 in reduced energy costs (at current prices) the first year. This equates to a 23% reduction in primary heating and cooling fuel costs.

Together, these statistics show that every $1.00 invested in the weatherization program returns $2.72 in energy and non-energy related benefits. Some of the largest returns come from the easiest projects including weatherstripping doors and windows, caulking exterior cracks and interior gaps, and replacing door sweeps and door bottoms. Reducing energy demand decreases the environmental impacts of energy production.

Source: www.weatherizationsource.com

Read More

 

Quick Tip: Manage Humidity To Control Heat

If the outdoor temperature is 32 degrees or lower, keeping the humidity level in your home between 60-70% will allow you to reduce the temperature by 3-4 degrees without compromising comfort. Do a quick check to see if the humidity in your home is adequate: Place three ice cubes in a glass of water and allow them to stand for five minutes. If the room has adequate moisture in the air, beads of water will form on the outside of the glass. If condensation does not occur within 5-15 minutes, the room is too dry. Consider using small or whole-home humidifiers to correct the problem.