THE GREAT ESCAPE
Every utinter, the
energy equivalent of all the oil that flows through the Alaskan pipeline in a
year leaks through American windows ‑
BACKGROUND
Since the energy crisis of the70s, experts have
been telling us regularly that insulating is one of the best ways to save
energy. We don't want to bore you by say, ing it one more time, but frankly,
you can't take energy conservation seriously without making sure your home is
properly insulated. It isn't always simple it can take both time and money. But
the savings in energy and cash will make it worthwhile.
INSULATION FACTS
If every gas,heated home
was property caulked and weather. stripped, the natural gas saved annually
would be enough to heat about 4 million homes.
Nearly half of all the
energy used in our homes is wasted. It goes "out the window," or
through the attic, cracks or other leaks, in the form of heat‑or, in summer, air
conditioning‑lost to the outside.
Attic insulation can
save 5% or more on heating costs‑‑‑15% on air conditioning costs
(it depends on the climate). * In some climates, new insulation can pay for
itself in a single sea son! In most climates,
it takes only one or two years. SIMPLE
THINGS TO DO Insulate:
If there's no insulation
in your home, you're costing yourself and the environment a fortune. If you do
have insulation, check to see if you have enough. Even add‑on insulation pays
itself back in about 2 years.
The U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, D.C. has a publication on
insulation called "In the Bank Or Up the Chimney." Have an "energy audit" to find
the heat leaks in ‑four house or apartment:
This
can range from simply going around the window frames and sashes of your house with a lighted
candle (if the flame flickers, you need caulking and weatherstripping) to
calling your local utility or an energy conservation contractor (see
"Energy" in the yellow pages) and having the energy audit done
professionally.
Many
utilities will do this at no charge. Or, if you're going to do it yourself,
they'll often provide guidebooks or checklists to help.
If You're Doing Your Own Energy Audit:
Worldwatch magazine suggests: "Pick ... a
cold, windy day, when secret drafts and leaks reveal themselves readily to the
flame of a hand‑held candle. An
inspection should include more than just outer walls, since chances are the
innards of your house are like Swiss cheese."
Be sure to check everywhere for energy leaks‑fireplace dampers,
cracks or holes in walls and ceilings, sites where plumbing or wiring penetrate
walls, floors and ceilings, attic doors, etc.
Windows also deserve special attention. Options
range from high‑tech windows, to simple
caulking.
Check Out Blower Doors: A recent experiment by a
New England electric utility, reported in Home Energy magazine, revealed that
contractors using a device called a "blower door" were able to reduce
leaks 7 to 8 times as well as residents who tried to find the leaks themselves.
So it may be worth it to find a contractor who uses one in his energy audits.
RESULTS According to Worldwatch Institute, an
average furnace uses the energy equivalent of 500 gallons of oil in a year. If,
by insulating, you save a mere 5% of the energy used to heat your home (a
reasonable amount), you'll save the equivalent of 25 gallons a year; 10,000
conservation‑minded families will
save,250,000 gallons'worth; 100,000 families will save 2.5 million gallons ...
and so on.
SOURCE 9 Educational Resources, Massachusetts
Audubon Society, Lincoln, MA 01773. Write for info on how to order their
booklets, "How to Weatherize Your Home or Apartutent, " "All
About Insulation, " and "Superinsulation."