Energy Efficiency in a Typical Residential Home

March 26, 2016

Homeowners across the country are becoming more and more aware about energy consumption and energy efficiency. The main concern is about reducing utility costs, but it's also about improving indoor comfort, and even about being conscious of the environment. For older homes, especially the ones that are poorly insulated, heating and cooling costs can be completely out of proportion. And when compared to newer homes with better insulation and better airtightness, it's not uncommon for utility bills to be 25% higher. Year after year, statistics show that 50% - 60% of energy usage in the home is directly related to heating and cooling. This is why many homeowners are choosing to upgrade or retrofit their home insulation. Without doubt, a well sealed, well insulated home requires far less heating during winter and far less cooling during summer. Best of all, the energy savings over the long term serve to offset many of the project costs that are associated with upgrading or retrofitting. Home insulation is a home improvement project with paybacks. In Canada, CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) highly recommends doing an Energy Audit prior to doing any actual insulation work. Amongst other assessments, a qualified technician will measure the airtightness of the house, and will identify critical areas of air leakage. Recommendations are then made for window and door improvements, heating system enhancements, and insulation upgrades. Probably the most important assessment is the measure of airtightness - something that is critical for energy efficiency. Reducing air leakage through exterior walls, roof cavities, and foundation walls is the highest priority when insulating a home. It will have the most effect in terms of improving energy performance. And for an expert contractor, this is usually the first consideration with an insulation retrofit. Leaking air, regardless of the location in the home, always reduces the effectiveness of insulation, no matter how professional the install. As well, air leakage allows moisture to accumulate, further compromising the indoor air environment. A well-executed insulation retrofit will resolve air leakage issues using a variety of approaches. Clearly, the Energy Audit will isolate the common and obvious air leaks that need attention. Where necessary, thermo-graphic equipment might be used to assess "hidden" pockets of heat loss. Thereafter, a contractor can offer solutions that may include weather-stripping, caulking, sealing, and of course, insulation. Indeed, this is where choosing the right insulation product for the job will make a major difference in project outcomes. When it comes to installing insulation, this too requires expertise. There are countless products available today, each with unique attributes and each with a specific price point. Clearly, there are important choices to be made: thermal resistance (R-Value) must be considered; ease of installation must be determined; and project cost must be calculated. All of this is best managed by a professional who can offer viable retrofitting options to the homeowner - options that deliver the best results, and the most cost effective investment. Needless to say, there are homeowners who are attracted by the prospect of saving money with a DIY (do it yourself) approach to insulation retrofitting. Most simply put, this is work for those who have the acquired skills, experience and expertise to guarantee optimum outcomes