Heating & Cooling
Heating our homes is usually the largest part of our energy consumption. There are many ways to improve the efficiency of heating & cooling. At the top of the list is air leaks around the house. The dept. of Energy has developed the following chart which shows the areas where most leaks occur. Inspect and block these air leaks.

Floors, walls & ceilings have the most heat loss & gain. This is basically due to the insulation of homes. Additional insulation in attics & crawl spaces can improve your energy consumption. We have seen a lot of insulation falling off in crawl spaces, so inspect and repair. Sealing hvac vents, exterior electrical outlets, windows, doors and plumbing penetrations with caulk or expanding foam will help decrease heat loss & gain. Replacing older windows or adding storm windows will also lower your energy consumption. Make sure you close your fireplace flue when not in use is a big savings in heat loss. Inspect your home for leaks and repair them for less energy waste.

Heat loss around the home.