How to save energy in your home!

Hello! I am here to tell you how you can cut down your heating and or cooling bills by doing some simple modifications to your home. These won't be overhauls, just helpful projects to do on a saturday to help you save money, and along with that, save our natural resources! So, all in all, this will be killing two birds with one stone.

Step 1 First Area of interest: The Attic

OK. The attic may be the most crucial place to think about during this instructable, as it is thought to be a way to majorly take down your heating and cooling bills. But first, let's do a review on how insulation works. It works because the fibers found in insulation are to capture pockets of air, to significantly slow the process of heat conduction, from inside or outside. Now, R values rate on how effective the insulation is at doing this process. If you live closer North, go for near R 49. Closer South, like Florida, go closer to 20. That being said, you must make sure that the insulation in your attic is close to these R values. If they are to low, you may have heat escaping in your attic. The reason why the attic is so insanely crucial is because heat rises, and thus into your attic. If you notice that your insulation is wet or damp, you should weather proof your roof so that this does not happen. Maybe as a precaution, you should weather proof your roof either way. You should also make sure you replace your shingles every several years so that water runs down smooth. That is about it for the attic, besides that if you have a window in it, you should definately make sure it is sealed well. If not, get new rubber seals (I think there are energy star approved ones, but maybe not).

Comments

[DerekTheOrange]

While in general energy star is good, it's worth noting that devices such as gasoline powered alarm clocks have gotten the energy star approval - do your hw, don't ever blindly trust anything.

[King825]

Vote for me in the United States of Efficiency Contest!