You can make improvements to cut down on energy costs in the future.
CHARLEVOIX -- Jeff Hilligan of Charlevoix recently put his home through an energy audit. Ric Evans and his team from Paradigm Energy conducted a thorough inspection of the home, taking photos and infrared images as they did so. The data collected was then entered into a computer program which was able to calculate the amount of energy being lost by various features of the home and how much that has been costing the homeowner.
With the results of the audit complete, Jeff Hilligan will now be able to make some improvements that Evans says will pay for themselves within the first heating season.
The first priority is insulating the attic. Evans says the attic of the home was not insulated at all, resulting in tremendous heat loss in the winter and heat retention in the summer. He recommends sealing any cracks and crevices and then adding up to 16 inches of cellulose or blown fiberglass insulation. Evans says the Hilligan family will notice the difference right away once the work is complete.
Another area that Evans says needs to be insulated is the rim and band joist, where the home rests on its foundation. Evans says parts of it do not have enough insulation and other parts are improperly insulated with fiberglass, which doesn’t prevent air infiltration in this case. Evans will recommend a spray foam insulation, which will seal the home better against outside air, or using a rigid foam insulation and then caulking the area.
The furnace in the Hilligan home is another concern, according to Evans. The existing furnace is 75 percent efficient, compared to newer models, which are up to 95 percent efficient.
Evans recommends the sealing and insulation projects first because the cost to implement them is relatively low and there is often a larger and faster payoff. New furnaces and other appliances are larger investments and it therefore takes longer for the energy savings to go into the homeowner’s pocket.
