When it comes to creating a cost-effective and energy efficient home, there are multiple steps that you can take to achieve this goal. Some of these are more effective than others, however, while it is also far easier to measure the impact of certain modifications and translate this into direct financial savings over the course of the year.
If you are serious about creating an energy efficient home and saving money, your best bet is to seal and insulate your home. There are various estimates as to how much money this can help you to save over the course of a year, but the EnergyStar.gov website claims that home-owners can reduce their energy consumption by 20% though insulation.
Sealing and insulating your home in 3 Easy Steps
With this in mind, what practical steps can you take to seal and insulate your home? Consider the following: –
1. Prioritise your Doors and Windows
In a typical home, the majority of energy is lost through the doors and windows. You should therefore prioritise these areas before starting work, initially by fitting draught excluders around all exterior doors as a starting point. Sealant strips can be purchased at relatively competitive price points from the majority of DIY stores, while they are also easy to fit and secure. You should follow the same procedure with you windows, and also strive to identify any cracks and crevices before patching these up with a putty or sealant.
2. Pay Attention to Any Floor or Skirting Gaps
Once you have effectively sealed your doors and windows, the next step is to fill any floor gaps that exist in your home. The majority of homes will have gaps between the skirting board and the floor, whether these are large and noticeable or exceptionally small. The size of these gaps will dictate how you fill them, however, as small or awkwardly positioned holes can be effectively dealt with using silicone sealant. In contrast, home-owners with a wooden floor may and multiple gaps along their skirting board may want to consider using a multipurpose sanding and sawing tool to correct this issue. If the problem persists, you can even hire an industry professional to install specialist floor insulation beneath your floor boards.
3. Insulate your Attic Space
On a final note, you should move upstairs and ensure that your attic space is effectively insulated. According to experts, laying attic insulation in the average property can save a staggering one tonne of carbon dioxide each year, and enable homeowners to reduce their energy costs considerably. Insulating your attic is also surprisingly easy to accomplish, as you are simply required to cover any exposed spaces with fibreglass wool and use this material to fill any larger or irregular gaps in the walls. This task can also be completed in a time-effective manner, and it can have a huge impact on the efficiency of your home.
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some great tips!
Great tips! Thanks, I am now sat here looking at every gap and wanting to fill it!
Hello Becky
Nice post. All exterior unprotected wood is open to various types of erosion. Natural weathering will result in the wood altering its original appearance to various muted colors. If new exterior wood is left unprotected, the durability, beauty and natural color is subject to change. The wood also oxidizes, seriously limiting its life. To keep your exterior wood looking like new you must apply water and UV resistant coatings that will protect your wood from water, UV sunlight, leaching, and decay.
My best to you in your endeavors.
As far as energy conservation is concerned, home insulation is an important approach. Actually, I don’t know the insulation can lower the energy consumption by 20%. Here are three points given to consider while insulating our home. According to the author, doors and windows have to be given much priority. For this, we have to bring in draught exclude-rs and sealant strips. It is obvious to deal with the floor and skirting gaps effectively. Moreover, attic insulation helps in lowering the emission of carbon dioxide, which is a boon for environment.
Another benefit of insulating your home is a reduced environmental impact. With an insulated home you will be using less energy for heating and cooling your home.