R-VALUE

Invest in your Home… Not your energy company!

• Over 80% of homes built before the 1980’s are under insulated.
• The average American consumes six times more energy than the world average.  Every time we open our utility bills we notice the cost of energy use.
• Households use about one fifth of the total energy consumed in the United States.
• With less than 5% of the world’s population, we consume about a quarter of the world’s energy.
• The typical family spends more than $2,700.00 a year on utility bills.
• Energy used in homes and buildings is the #1 cause of Greenhouse Emissions.

Attic:

R-Value is the most important measurement representing and insulating resistance to heat transfer.  Up to 40% of a home’s conditioned air escapes through the attic.  Adding insulation is one of the most cost effective solutions.  Proper insulation will help prevent ice dams.  Proposed code requires R-49 or over 18-inches.  20% of a home’s energy is lost through the attic.

Envelope:

A home’s Envelope consists of its roof, walls, and floors.  Hidden air leaks can cut the cost of attic insulation from 30 to 70%!!  A small leak can have the same effect as leaving a door wide open.  All leaks should be sealed before insulating, like plumbing vents, duct work, chimneys, windows, doors, and light fixtures.  You can save 10% or more on your energy bill by sealing leaks.

Windows:

Windows can account for 10 to 25% of your heating bill.  New “Low/E Argon” windows are 15% more efficient than single pane windows.  Condensation on the inside of windows indicates that the window is losing its effectiveness at insulating.  The most common area of loss with windows is the insulation around the frame of the window and the wall.  Drafty rooms are mostly from leaks caused by windows.

Mechanicals:

Water heating is the third largest expense in your home.  Hot water heaters should be insulated.  A mechanical tune-up at least once a year can help you save as much as 10% a year.  A dirt-clogged filter can increase your heating costs by 10%.  You can save an additional 10% a year by installing a programmable thermostat.  Ductwork that leaks air can add hundreds of dollars to your heating and cooling bills.  Fireplaces are the most inefficient heat source you can use.

Lighting:

Average households dedicate 11% of their energy budget to lighting.  New technology, like CFL bulbs, can reduce energy costs by 50 to 75%.  Each CFL you install can save you $30 to $60 over the bulb’s life.  If you replace 25% of your light bulbs with fluorescents, you can save about 50% on your lighting bill.  90% of the power used by an incandescent bulb is wasted in the form of heat.

Safety:

Air leaks can add to the risk of Carbon Monoxide and Radon poisoning.