If you’re seeking to lower your energy bill this winter, fall is the time to act. The Clark Public Utilities weatherization program can help you make those final preparations before the colder weather creeps in. “Weatherization is something that customers can invest in and recoup long-term return,” said Debbie DePetris, customer accounts and energy reporting services manager for the utility. “We often associate weatherization with guarding against cold weather, but it actually helps reduce wasted energy during both winter heating and summer cooling.”
Weatherization often brings to mind insulation and windows. These can be expensive items, but worthwhile, especially in homes built before the 1980s. In that era, energy was cheap, and insulating a home didn’t save you as much. Even modestly weatherizing a pre-1980s “air-leaky” house today can make a significant difference in your energy bills, because those costs have risen.
“New windows may not be the best place to start stopping air leaks though,” DePetris said. At just 10 percent of the total air leaks in the average home, windows rank below culprits that are more serious. Floors, walls and ceilings lose 31 percent of your heat; ducts and ductwork, 15 percent; fireplaces, 14 percent; and plumbing, 13 percent. So, close the fireplace damper. Next, start sealing up other air leaks in your home. Plugging up leaks is a pragmatic — and cheaper — solution.
Floors and attics are a good starting place. Although new homes must have R-38 insulation in ceilings (15 to 18 inches of blown-in insulation) and R-30 insulation in the crawl space or basement under floors (a 10-inch thickness), older homes may not benefit from these R-levels of insulation. Depending on its construction, its age and how much weatherproofing work previous owners did, the amount of insulation you need to reach these R-ratings may vary.
