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Clinton News-Record, 1984-10-24, Page 37Conserve Energy—Page 4 leakage is major source of hetet loss in many homes If your home isn't properly air -sealed, you may pay twice as much as you should for winter space heating. Air leakage through poorly sealed doors and windows, as well as through cracks in the walls and ceiling, is the major source of heat loss in many homes. Air leakage contributes to destruc- tive condensation problems within exterior wall and roof spaces. Because of rising energy prices, greater public awareness and available government assistance and information programs, householders are approaching energy use more logically and planning for the long term. Air sealing is now regarded as an im- portant and necessary first step in home energy improvements. You might well ask how much fresh air we really need. If you live in an older house this should not be a real concern. An average family of four requires at least one complete air change every four hours. Most Canadian homes experience more than one air change every hour. Even the most thorough attack on air leaks in an older home is unlikely to achieve this kind of reduction. A house which is very airtight may re- quire special approaches to maintaining an adequate supply of fresh air. The simplest approach is to supply ventilation to the fur- nace or to open vents or a window when you operate a fireplace or gas range. A more ambitious solution would be the installation of an air-to-air heat exchanger. This device uses stale indoor air 10 warm cold incoming air. As much as 70 per cent of the outgoing heat can be captured and reused in this manner. There are three simple steps in the air - sealing process: sizing up the job, getting the right products and installing them pro- perly. Here are some of the potential trouble spots worth checking. From inside the house check around win- dows (around the glass panes, sash and trim), doors, electrical outlets on exterior walls, exhaust fans and vents, recessed light fixtures, interior trim such as baseboards, fireplace dampers, behind bathtubs and under sinks. Also check around plurrlbing stacks, wires and light fixtures that penetrate the floor, ducting, chimneys, false stairwells and around attic access doors. From inside the- basement check where the wood frame wall sits on the masonry wall or where framing penetrates the masonry wall, around electrical lines, plum- bing, gas lines or oil filler pipes that go Afriendinneed Add on electric heat ioyouroilfuniace and intmdu� yourself to substantial oil swings. Kissing that old flame goodbye isn't the only way to reduce your oil consumption. If thatoil fur- nace is still in good shape, you can take advantage of converting to a dual energy heating system. Instead of replacing your furnace, introduce it to an electric plenum heater, heat pump, elec- tric boiler or baseboard heaters. These dual energy systems let oil and electricity work in har- mony to heat your home more efficiently and more economically. Operation is simple. The electric system works until the coldest winter days, then your oil furnace automatically takes over. In most cases, add-on electric heat will reduce your oil consumption by up to 75%. Even more in some cases. And a'reduction of that magnitude can make a dramatic difference to the total cost of heating your home. PLENUM HEATER. The "plenum" is the warm air chamber at the top of yourforced air oil furnace. That's exactly where a plenum heater is installed. So that on most days, the fan circulates more economical, electrically generated heat. HEAT PUMP. Even on cold winter nights, there is still warmth in the outside air. Just like a refrigerator, the heat pump ex- tracts that warmth and pumps it into your home. Plus there's an added bonus. In the summer, your heat Call Goderich Public Utilities Connrnission "e«•Proof _ 524-7371 Customers of Ontario Hydro should contact their Local Area Office. pump works in reverse and becomes a central air conditioner. ELECTRIC BOILER. If you have an oil fueled hot water heating system, there's another alternative. You simply add an electric boiler. It's no bigger than a small suitcase and can be easily installed. ELECTRIC BASEBOARDS. These can also be used as a dual energy system. .-47; They're installed in individual moms to quietly handle most of the heating load. Install a dual energy system now and you may be eligible for a COSP (Canada Oil Sub- stitution Program) grant. It pays for half of the installed cost or $800, whichever is less, if you reduce your oil consumption by 50% or more. Telephone today and ask for a visit from our energy adviser. We'll tell you about the advan- tages of dual energy heating systems and special assistance that could lead to even greater savings. 1//////////////////i Go Electric through the basement wall and around base- ment windows and doors. The materials needed and their correct application techniques vary. Basically the job requires caulking and weatherstripping, as , well as ,small amounts of insulation, plastic sheeting and specialized products such as gaskets for electrical outlet boxes. The key to the lasting effectiveness of caulking and weatherstripping is flexibility. These materials must endure extreme changes in temperature, exposure to moisture and mechanical stress. Quality materials usually cost more, but work bet- ter and last longer, saving you time and money over the longterm. For a detailed explanation of each aspect of stopping air leaks obtain Keeping The Heat In, available free of charge from Energy, Mines and Resources Canada. Consider alternatives to oil The Canada Oil Substitution Program (COSP) provides up to $800 and information to housheolders who switch off oil. For the householder who reduces oil consumption by 50 per cent or more, this assistance can considerably shorten the tune required to pay back the cost of conversion. Electricity Like natural gas, electricity is a major off -oil alternative. The cost of electricity varies a great deal across Canada. For all - electric heating systems, the cost of upgrading your home's electrical service capacity should be included when compar- ing alternatives. Many householders can take advantage of the flexibility that elec- tricity offers by combining it with other fuels. For example, it is possible under COSP to combine a serviceable existing oil- fired system with an electrical system such as a plenum heater or heat pump to eliminate the use of oil in all but the coldest weather. Wood Especially for rural householders, wood may be a good choice to supplement or eliminate the use of oil. You should satisfy yourself that you can obtain wood at reasonable prices, and that you are prepared to devote the additional time and effort wood -fired systems require. Wood -fired appliances must be installed precisely to the manufacturer's specifica- tions. Equally important are the sizing and location of appliances. An oversized or poor- ly positioned space healer may be both un- safe and inefficient. Wood -fired appliances eligible for COSP must have controlled com- bustion, must have COSP Acceptance Numbers, and must be certified and labell- ed Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada • (ULC), Warnock Hersey (WH) or another agency recognized by the Standards Council of Canada. Propane When propane is already in use on the farm or in the home, or when the conversion costs of other alternatives are high, it can be an economical long-term choice. In areas scheduled for future natural gas service (call your local gas utility), propane -fired heating equipment can replace an oil -fired system now and be adapted easily to natural gas when it becomes, available. Solar Because solar energy is basically free, solar heating can provide protection against rising fuel costs. However, householders are advised to weigh the initial costs of such systems carefully before making a decision to switch to solar. Solar hot water and swim- ming pool heating systems are, now available as packaged units from several Canadian manufacturers. Chimneys important For householders who heat with wood, a properly constructed and . operating chimney is the most important part of the heating system. Although it is often neglected, the chimney has an important ef- fect on how efficiently and safely a wood - fired stove or furnace system works.