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| Is There a 6 Sq. Ft. Hole in Your Home? |
Submitted by:
Ray@TipHero
03/14/2009 8:35 PM
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 Is there a 6-10 square foot hole in your home letting warm air out? You would think you would notice something like that. Well there probably isn't one single hole large enough for an NBA team to walk through, but cumulatively all those little cracks, gaps, and leaks add up.
I recently watched a video (link below) of an energy audit, and one of the comments made by the auditor blew me away. He said, for an average home, when you add up all the little gapes, holes, and cracks it typically adds up to 6-10 square feet. Wow! That's basically like having a huge 6-10 sq ft. window open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week letting tons of heat and money flow effortlessly out of your home.
The energy audit was being performed on the home of Tom Zeller Jr., the editor of the NY Time's Green Inc. blog. It was fascinating to watch. The auditors used a variety of tools to track down heat loss including infrared thermographic cameras, smoke sticks, blower doors, even spiders. It turns out spiders typically spin their webs where there is a draft so they are good indicators of where a leak might be lurking.
High ROI
I also learned from the video that sealing air leaks offers the highest energy saving return on your invesment (ROI). This comment was made by one of the auditors. It must be a very high ROI because switching to CFLs offer an unbelievably high ROI. In a video of another home energy audit the auditor calculated that a hollow door leading to the outside was costing the homeowner $40 to $50 a month in energy costs.
High Risk Areas
When conducting an energy audit there are a few high energy loss areas to pay particular attention to: dryer vents, attics, exterior walls, doors, windows, fireplaces, and as previously mentioned any where there is a spider web. My parents had an energy audit done a few years ago and it dramatically reduced their energy bill. One recommendation they still have yet to implement is insulating the electrical plugs on exterior walls as heat often escapes through these.
Energy Audit Assistance
Many utilities and local governments offer subsidies for conducting energy audits and implementing their recommendations. For example, in Oregon if your income is less than 60% of Oregon's median you can get 100% of your weatherization costs covered. If your income is 60-80% of the median you can get much of it covered. My parents received a free energy audit, along with insulation, bathroom vents, attic vent, pipe insulation, and the sealing of air leaks.
To find what's available in your area call your local utility. You may also check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at: http://www.dsireusa.org/
Home Energy Audit Videos:
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/03/11/business/energy-environment/1194838468705/home-green-home-hunting-energy-leaks.html
http://wcbstv.com/consumer/moneysaver.energy.audits.2.929304.html
Related TipHero Tips:
Find Energy Incentives & Rebates Offered in Your Area
Online Home Energy Saver Audit
Cut Your Electric Bill in Half
A Timer for Your Water Heater & Other Energy Saving Tips
photo credit: zieak |
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