Stop air flow and high energy bills
G. Thomas Upshaw | President & CEO
After a long day at work, I'm ready to
go home and relax. Our homes should
be an oasis for all of us—where we can
kick back and get comfortable.
But there's no oasis of
comfort when your home
is too cold in winter or
oppressively hot in the
summer. That means it's
leaking air—and wasting
money.
One of the best things
you can do if you have high
electric bills is check the insulation.
How much is in your attic and
basement or crawl space? What kind
is it? Is there an air barrier along with
the insulation? The answers to these
questions will determine how much
energy and money you can save.
In addition to insulation, air leaks—often in overlooked places like where water lines come into kitchen
or bathroom cabinets—can waste energy and money. Use sealant, as demonstrated here by Anne Walker, a CSR in our Hilton Head office,
to fill any openings around pipes. |
Air infiltration is one of the main
problems for most homes. It's healthy
to have some air flow in and out of
your home, but too much leads to
discomfort and high electric bills.
Properly installed insulation paired
with an air barrier can do a lot to save.
If you have fiberglass insulation—
whether blown or rolled batts—you'll
need to create an air barrier by sealing
all of the cracks and gaps between the
living space and unfinished areas with
caulk and expanding foam. Cellulose
does a better job of blocking air, but
only foam insulation offers its own air
barrier.
Check out EnergySavers.gov to learn more about insulation.
You can also click on the Save Energy & Money tab, on our website,
for more tips plus programs and services that help you save.
|
