When it comes to your home or business, the more efficient it is the better. Reducing energy loss can make your space more comfortable and healthy to live and work in. Here are some tips for making your home more energy efficient:
Blown-in insulation
If you have an attic or crawlspace then eco-friendly cellulose based insulation can be a great inexpensive and easy to do option. This type of insulation is sold in bales. Stores that sell it usually rent the machine that blows it into your attic so this is something that can be a weekend do-it-yourself project. The cellulose fiber is sprayed with a fire retardant for safety. Make sure you check to make sure that your ceiling can handle the added weight of the insulation safely – false ceilings can be weak.
Foam insulation
Foam is great because it offers a lot of insulation value per inch and can be easily injected into almost any cavity that causes energy loss. You will want to make sure your wiring is good if you are doing this because it can make it harder to do electrical repairs. Small kits can be bought to do this yourself, but it is often just as cheap to have someone else do it. This has to do with packaging costs; it is simply more economical for the material to come in larger canisters.
Window coverings
White wooden shutters ……. there are more than 70 other colours!, can be a great way to add style while making windows more energy efficient. Shutters can help keep your home or business cooler in the summer and warmer during the cold months. Added window treatments such as curtains can add even more insulation value to that provided by the shutters. This also allows you to control the light in your space so that you use less electricity at times.
Check for drafts and seal them
An energy audit can be conducted to determine where your home or business is losing the most. One trick you can use is to light a stick of incense in your home and walk around with it in a holder for safety. If the smoke seems to drift towards one particular area then there could be an air leak. Caulk or small cans of foam can be used to seal small air leaks.
Planning insulation in a new build
There is a lot to consider when building a new home or business. Foam insulation provides the highest insulation value per inch. The bigger the boards you use for your walls and roof, the more insulation you can put in them. At the same time, you can get a very high insulation value with standard stud sized walls if you use foam. Bigger boards also mean the structure is stronger. Building codes can vary by climatic zone so check to see what the minimum insulation value of your building must be and then exceed it. Good insulation will save you a lot of money over time and is better for the environment.