Is your home or office weatherized?

Properly sealing and insulating are great first steps to saving energy

There are a number of ways heated or cooled air can leave your home or office, and all of them cost you money. The good news is most weatherization fixes are relatively inexpensive, will improve comfort, and can pay for themselves within two years.

The two main areas of weatherization are air sealing and insulation. And these energy conservation measures are more important than ever as more households now have air conditioning.

Air Sealing

The most common ways indoor air escapes outdoors – and vice versa – are through small gaps around doors and windows, electrical and plumbing fixtures, and in recessed lighting and ductwork. Before tackling any insulation work, make sure you seal your home or office as much as possible.

Some air sealing can be done by anyone with weather-stripping and a caulking gun. For best results, air sealing should be done by a professional who can test for and repair all leaks. This might include a blower door test.

Insulation

Many older homes in Oregon don’t have adequate insulation for our climate, and some homes and apartments have no insulation at all. You should always protect insulation from chimneys and heat-producing fixtures, including recessed lights. Online guides can help you make sure you have adequate ventilation in spaces like attics.

The Oregon Department of Energy recommends insulating attic floors to R-38 and basement or crawl spaces under floors to at least R-25. Also, after your ductwork is properly sealed, ducts should be insulated to R-8 and water pipes to R-3. An “R-value” measures how well insulation materials can resist heat. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.

Other areas to consider for more insulation: walls (R-13), new doors (U-value rating of 0.20 or better) and energy efficient windows (U-value of 0.30 or better). U-value indicates a rate of heat loss – the lower the U-value, the better. However, be aware that replacing windows has a much longer payback period.

Incentives
Rebates or incentives may be available for air sealing and insulation. Visit the your local utility’s website to find out more.

Want More Help?
Contact Roger Kainu, ODOE energy efficiency specialist, at 503-580-7469 or via email at roger.kainu@oregon.gov.