HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-11-19, Page 36CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1986—Page 8B
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Renovations can vastly improve
the energy efficiency of your home
Renovation can do more than change the
physical appearance of your house — it
can improve the energy efficiency as well.
By working energy efficiency into your
plans, the money you save on fuel bills will
help pay for the renovation work. Better
yet, the energy savings will continue year
after year.
Many energy conservation activities
that normally would be extremely difficult
or impossible can be undertaken during
renovation. For example, effective sealing
of the sill plate (a major source of air
leakage in a finished basement might in-
volve removing the wall covering and in-
sulation. This work can be accomplished
more conveniently when you are actually
finishing the basement.
A common reason for doing renovation
work is to make the home more comfor-
table. Energy conservation can help. An
energy-efficient home has 'fewer drafts
and cold walls and is warmer in winter and
cooler in summer than a poorly insulated,
leaky home.
Energy efficiency can usually be incor-
porated into renovation plans at little ex-
tra cost. If you're hiring a contractor, ask
to have energy improvements worked into
the renovation proposal.
Here are some tips that will help you
build energy efficiency into all of your
home renovation plans.
To start at the top: if you plan to turn at-
tic space into an extra room, you can make
it more comfortable by sealing all air
leaks, installing generous amounts of in-
' sulation and adding an air -vapour barrier
on the warm side of the insulation. If space
is at a premium, 'board stock insulation
covered by a suitable fire-resistant
material i such as gypsum board) might be
the best solution. Installing windows on the
south -facing wall and skylights in the ceil-
ing can both brighten the room and pro-
vide passive solar heat (be sure the win-
dows and skylights are caulked and
weatherstripped ).
If you are working on the ventilation
system in an unfinished attic, check the ex-
isting insulation and air sealing; it may be
worthwhile to upgrade both. Vents should
be unobstructed by debris to improve air
flow and help prevent condensation pro -
Reduce energy
used by heater
blems and ice buildup. If insulation is
blocking the vents, create a clear air
passage by installing baffles. Ensure that
the joints around new vents are completely
sealed and that the vents are louvred or in-
stalled to keep rain or snow from entering
the attic.
When decorating existing upstairs
rooms, consider using oil-based paint or
vinyl wallpaper. These materials can help
prevent water vapour from passing into
the wall cavity or attic, where it can
decrease the effectiveness of the
insulation.
Double -glazed windows and insulated -
doors can significantly reduce conductive
heat loss. Be sure that all doors and win-
dows, old or new, are thoroughly caulked
and weatherstripped. Caulk around doors
and windows and window trim with a pain -
table caulking before painting. If you
replace a baseboard, caulk the joint bet-
ween the wall and floor before installing
the new material. Caulking should always
be applied from inside the house.
Fireplaces contribute to the appearance
of a room but they are inherently ineffi-
cient. When making repairs to an existing
fireplace, be sure the damper seals tightly
or consider installing a chimney cap
damper. -
Supplementing the combustion air
available to a fireplace can also reduce the
amount of heated air drawn up the
chimney. Fresh -air intake ducts bring
combustion air from the outdoors to the
front of the fireplace. The ducts should be
equipped with a tight -fitting damper that
can be closed when the fireplace is not in
use.
Glass doors can be an attractive addition
to a fireplace and can help prevent house
The water heater is the second largest
energy -consuming appliance in the average
house.
Sorne steps can be taken; however, to
reduce the amount of energy used for
heating water - and many of them.will cost '
little more than a bit of your own time and
effort.
Lowering the temperature setting on the
tank will result in immediate savings at no
cost. A temperature to 50" C will provide
water hot enough for most household uses.
If you have a dishwasher without a
booster heater, the water heater
temperature should be set at 60°C. The
power -supply to an electric water heater
should be turned off before any thermostat
adjustments are made.
Draining about five litres of water every
month for the hot water tank will remove
sediment and reduce scaling; this lets
heating elements work more efficiently and
will prolong the life of the system.
You can install flowing restrictors and
aerators on faucets and showerheads. The
water pressure should still be more than
adequate for all household purposes.
Leaky faucets should be fixed promptly.
One drop per second from the hot water tap
will waste 750 litres of hot water per month -
enough for about 16 hot baths.
An insulation kit for your water heater
can he purchased from hardware store;
follow all installation instructions that ac-
company the kit.
Make sure there is an opening for the
dram valve, thermostat and other controls.
If your water heater is fired by oil or gas
takereat care not to plug the draft hood or
the air intakes. You should also contact
either the rnanufacturer or your local utility
for details before installing an insulating
blanket.
air from being lost up the chimney when
the fire is dying down or when the fireplace
is not in use. If you're installing a new
fireplace, ensure it is energy efficient.
Major kitchen renovations, such as the
addition of new cupboards, also provide an
opportunity for air sealing or insulation
work. If you're adding a south -facing
breakfast nook, consider incorporating
energy-efficient windows in the design for
a pleasant 'solarium -like' effect that takes
advantage of passive solar heat.
In the bathroom, do as much caulking
and insulation work as possible (insulate
on the cold side of the water pipes to pre-
vent freezing). Many caulking materials
are moisture resistant, making them ideal
for the bathroom, Also, consider installing
a flow restrictor showerhead to reduce the
amount of hot water used.
Before finishing the basement ceiling,
tape all joints in the hot air ducts (you
might even consider insulating long runs
of duct work). This will help get more of
the heat from the furnace to its destina-
tion. Caulk all cracks in the exterior
masonry walls, install insulation and add
an air -vapour barrier.
Energy efficiency can even be incor- .
porated into renovation work on the out-
side of your house. For example, if you
have gone to the trouble of excavating to
repair leaky foundation walls, it makes
sense to insulate these walls from the out-
side before backfilling. In any case, make
sure the wall is well dampproofed.
Before re -siding your 'house, add insula-
tion from the outside or use insulating
siding. And ifyou're adding a pool or buy-
ing a new heating system for an existing
pool, consider buying a solar water -
heating system.
THE CLASS1CSIfI!OM
ANT CASTING
THE WOODSTOVE
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ontrolled
Available in 7 Beautiful
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If you enjoy a woodfire, you'll love
visit to Country Hearth & Terrace. I
our showroom, you'll find the very
latest in modern technology and
classic good looking woodheaters. We
have woodburning appliances to
match your fireplace size and your
heating needs, as well as tastefully
complement the decor of your home.
Warm yourself by the fire, and let our
experienced staff discuss with you the
different woodburning options
available. Come visit us, the fireplace
..�.- rspecialists, at the old schoolhouse in
Birr.
Warmly Yours,
John and Kathryn Stanbury
Country Hearth and Terrace
"HOME IS WHERE THE
HEARTH IS"
OtIR
yR.R. #2, LONDON
Located at the
OLD SCHOOL HOUSE
HIGHWAY 4 IN BIRR
bud(10 Xm. north of London)
& TERRTICE 666-0382
Hours: Monday -Saturday 10:00-5:30
Friday open till 8:00 p.m.
•
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FOR MORE
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AFTER 6 RM.
523 9484
Finally...
a Cure for the
ommon Cold.
I
Energy efficiency
is a guaranteed
cure for those
. chills you get with
your electricity or gas
bill, for those shivers you ,
feel when you hear about the cost
of heating oil, and for those coughing
fits you seem to develop every
time you see how much you pay
for hot water. 4
Energy efficiency, in fact,
cures almost every cold -related
ill you and your house
suffer from. .
1*
4
.Next time you are
building or renovating a
home, remember, even with
lower energy prices, energy
efficiency is an excellent investment.
Energy efficiency will improve the
comfort of your home, as well
as be financially rewarding.
So don't suffer needlessly
from the effects of the
common cold. Proper
home energy manage-
ment and good energy
habits will cure it
every time!
It'd called energy efficiency.
Energy, Mines and
Resources Canada
Hon. Marcel Messe,
Minister
energie, Mines et
Ressources Canada
CH6n. Martel arse.
Ministre
Canaua"`