Energy Savings


How do we save energy in our home ?

These are the five main areas:



Air leakage is + 3x that of ceilings at 35% !


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The blower door test may indicate that you have some serious air leakages in your home. This test will do 2 things: (1) provide you with a starting point in terms of “air volume” flowing through your home, and (2) actually identify those areas within your home where air is actually leaking in. This can be around windows and doors, electrical sockets in the walls, cracks around the fireplace, kitchen exhaust fans, air vents in rooms, or simply cracks in the wall or ceiling. Locating and caulking these various cracks and leaks is not expensive and the blower door test makes it possible to accurately locate the problem areas. Cost: ~$100.


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Attic entrances are probably the most overlooked source of home energy loss. The attic opening, fold-down stair or doorway is one of the largest gaps in your home’s insulation, and usually not properly sealed against air infiltration, wasting energy in both hot and cold weather. Depending on the climate in your region, the attic entrance can also cause damming, mold and roof damage.


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In the average home, heating water accounts for ~13% of the total energy bill. The Department of Energy states that water heaters should have an R-Value of at least R-24, and if your water heater is more than 8 years old, it probably does not meet current code standards for insulation. Adding a water heater blanket can cut standby heat losses by 25-45%, lowering your total energy cost by 4-9% annually!


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Replacing old incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs will save you $7-$10 per light bulb.....Every year! They use about 75% less energy than standard light bulbs and last 10 x longer. Over the life of the bulb you can save an average of $35 for every bulb you replace. Today there are compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLB’s) for practically every application, including appliance bulbs, bathroom vanity lights, outdoor flood lights; even with dimmers.


Water Saver Shower Heads just make sense, conserving an average 7 gallons of water during an average shower. A family of 3 that uses water saving shower heads can save up to $230 in energy bills and ~7,500 gallons of water per year.



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If you haven’t already got one, installing a programmable thermostat in your home is the easiest and most cost-effective way to save energy, money and fight global warming. Costing from $30 to $100, a programmable thermostat can save up to 15% on heating and cooling bills, paying for itself in as little as a month.


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In almost all homes, small amounts of outside air constantly leaks in through electric outlets and switch plates but since most homes have dozens of these openings, the cost can really add up. A simple upgrade to insulated outlet covers and switch plates will lower your energy bills and raise your comfort level.


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Air deflectors help keep floors warmer by directing warm air down to living areas away from drapes, furnishings and walls, helping to save energy in your home.





According to the United States Department of Energy, the average home with forced air heating and cooling looses 45% of its treated air to leaks found in the air duct system either up in the attic or below the floors. The average homeowner is spending 2x as much money for electricity and gas (or heating oil) as is needed to keep their home comfortable.

By performing an air ducting test you can discover the effectiveness or lack thereof of your home’s forced air system. The standard for effectiveness is measured at no more than 15% loss of treated air. The sealing operation that normally follows can require 2 people working together to invest up to 4 hours in sealing all of your air ducts and various connections. Estimated cost: $600 - $2,000, depending on the size of the home and degree of work needed.


Insulation


Next in order of cost factor is insulation. Insulating walls and ceilings is still the most important activity any homeowner can consider if interested in home energy reductions. Having at least R-30 insulation in the attic, plus your walls properly insulated is far more important than even dual pane windows. Not only will your home be able to contain warm or cool air more efficiently (depending on the season), but your home will actually become quieter.



Hemp Technologies provides assistance and materials to help insulate your home from the elements and save energy. Call us today at +1 (828) 333-4724 for more information or
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