Energy Renovations

> Energy Renovations

  Once you have identified the issues in your home that are compromising its energy efficiency, water efficiency, comfort and possibly safety, it is time to make a plan for

corrective action.  Many times the work can be completed in an incremental manner.

     The person performing your assessment should leave you with a prioritized list of energy renovations.  The most common areas found in residences that require work are below. NCEP maintains its own highly trained crews to perform many of the common issues that arise from an energy audit.  Supervision is always provided to help ensure quality work and safety.  For more complicated issues like solar water heating and higher-end foam insulation installation, we pull known resources from our cooperative base that operate under our terms of thorough, quality work with complete customer satisfaction

     Air Sealing -  Many air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are easy to feel—like those around windows and doors. But holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawl spaces are usually bigger problems.

These leaks can make your home uncomfortable, waste energy, and cost you money.

Different types of products can be used for different types of air leaks:

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2. •Caulk, spray foam, and weather stripping for
   

3. sealing smaller leaks
   

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5. •Plywood, drywall, or rigid foam insulation for covering larger holes
   

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7. •Sheet metal and high-
   

8. temperature fire caulk to seal
   

9. gaps around chimneys & furnaces
   

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  Insulation - Insulation helps keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are many types of insulation—fiberglass (most common), cellulose, rigid foam board,

and spray foam. Reflective insulation (or radiant barrier) can help save energy in hot, sunny climates. The most common issue seen is voids in the thermal or insulation barrier or other failures.

Insulation performance is measured by R-value—its ability to resist heat flow. Higher R-values mean more insulating power. Different R-values are recommended for walls, attics, basements and crawl spaces, depending on your area of the country.

Insulation is most effective air is not moving through or around it, it is important to seal air leaks before installing insulation to ensure that you get the best performance possible. When working with fiberglass you should always were a long-sleeve shirt, gloves, a face mask and goggles.

Crawl Space -   To effectively  insulate your crawl space for energy efficiency and to create a comfortable home, you need to properly control moisture. 

A crawl space is susceptible to moisture and deterioration problems because of contact with the earth. Many gallons of water enter the home every day from the crawl space.  Reducing water laden air (latent) in your home means less wear and tear on your air conditioning system and improved comfort.  Another issue involves water intruding through the walls and having no drainage system.  The best approaches for preventing these problems will depend on your local climate. However, the following general guidelines for creating a water-managed foundation system apply to most crawl space designs:

1. 1.Install 6-10 mil polyethylene vapor diffusion barrier across the crawl space floor to prevent soil moisture from migrating into the crawl space. Overlap and tape all seams by 12 inches. Seal the polyethylene 6 inches up the crawl space walls.  Use rocks to help stabilize and secure the plastic.
   

2. 2.Keep the drainage plane free from debris and the drain clog free. 
   

3. 3.Seal the penetrations between the crawl space and the first floor.
   

4. 4.Keep crawl space clean and free of all materials.  Do not store lawnmowers, gasoline, hoses, wood, etc. in the crawl space.  These items can contribute to poor indoor air quality.
   

5. 5.Re-position fallen insulation so that it comes in contact with the above sub-floor.  Secure with hooks.
   

6. 6.Insulated or closed/sealed crawl spaces require insulation and conditioning.

Summary-  Improving the energy efficiency of a home is a matter of addressing many of the different system’s issues.  Almost any home can realize energy efficiency, water efficiency, more comfort, a higher level of health and lower carbon emissions. The following is the minimum list of items that may need to be completed to achieve a quality home:

1. 1.Air and duct sealing
   

2. 2.Insulation distribution in attic and insulation over hatch
   

3. 3.Programmable thermostats, possibly with controls over usage
   

4. 4.Weather stripping on front and back doors
   

5. 5.Crawl space cleaning and poly- 6 – 10ml
   

6. 6.Window and door seating and caulking where needed, etc.
   

7. 7.HVAC review for condition and sizing
   

8. 8.Water fixture replacement

             

Your energy savings start with an assessment – Call today  336-402-4118

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Miscellaneous Energy Items

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3. •Replace light bulbs with CFL bulbs with similar wattage.
   

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5. •Replace or build box around recessed lighting into unconditioned space.
   

1. •Insulate water heater if in unconditioned   space.
   

1. •  Weather stripping around doors.
   

1. •  Chimney balloons to control air flow.
   

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3. •Replacing water fixtures with low flow and water efficient fixtures.

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