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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-11-19, Page 45PAGE 8B—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1986 yon 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 a tivities 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 (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). Tf you are working on the ventilation system in an unfinished attic, check the ex- isting insulation and air sealing; it may be wprthwhile to upgrade both. Vents should b unobstructed by debris to improve air fllw 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 existin* 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. Some 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 willaste 750,litres of hot water per month -' enough for about 16 hot baths. An insulation kit for your water heater can Ibe purchased from hardware store; folio all installation instructions that ac - coin any the kit. M ke sure there is an opening for the drai valve, thermostat and other controls. If our water heater is fired by oil or gas take reat care not to plug the draft hood or the it intakes. You should also contact eithe the manufacturer or ypur local utility for tails before installing an insulating blan et. 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 thaLtakes 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 if you're adding a pool or buy- ing a new heating system for an existing pool, consider buying a solar water - heating system. THE CLASSICSFR0M NT CASTIV6 THE WOODSTOVE •Quality Cast Iron ®Efficient, Airtight *Thermostatically Controlled Available in 7 Beautiful Porcelain Enamel Colours •Available in 5 Sizes rt1i•nif 111 1111;�,� If you enjoy a woodfire, you'll love a visit to Country Hearth & Terrace. In our showroom, you'll find the very latest in modern technology and classic Food 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 specialists, at the old schoolhouse in Birr. Warmly Yours, John and Kathryn Stanbury Country Hearth and Terrace "HOME IS WHERE -THE HEARTH IS" �URT1r kalif �S TERRitCE R.R. #2, LONDON Located at the OLD SCHOOL HOUSE HIGHWAY 4 IN BIM (10 Km. north of London) 666-0382 Hours: Monday -Saturday 10:00-5:30 Friday open till 8:00 p.m. COMPLETE INSULATION SERVICE SPACE AGE INSULATION ppI dill Ii i )�I,jl We do _ ill .I 0 1l ,�`� all types of insul®lion I J � /P..) , •POLYURETHANE FOAM . •FIBERGLASS • ROCK WOOL •CELLULOSE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND FREE ESTIMATES CALL Ren (Cassias AFTER 6 P.M. 523-9484 0, r the ornmon Cold. 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. Energy efficiency, in fact, cures almost every cold -related ill you and your house suffer from. 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's called energy efficiency. ' Energy, Mines and Resources Canada Hon. Marcel Masse, Minister Energie, Mines et Ressources Canada L'Hon. Marcel Masse, Ministre Canaua