Conserving Energy and Keeping Warm this Winter
This month, we’re continuing our discussion of earth-friendly renovations with a look at your home’s heat retention.
There’s always going to be some waste, (just opening the door sends unavoidable billows of cold air in,) but if you find that your furnace or fireplace is running around the clock, even when the doors remain closed, your home may lack adequate insulation. Here are a few areas of concern when assessing heat retention in your home:
1. The exterior walls. These are the hardest retrofit. Often the only way to upgrade is to remove the existing insulation and replace with something of a higher value, which is made more expensive because all your insulation is hiding behind finished drywall. Keep this in mind if you ever renovate a room on an exterior wall; don’t forget to upgrade the insulation while you have access to it! If you redo your siding, this provides another option. Some companies offer a foam backed siding that adds 3 points to the R value, or you might consider installing 7.5-R ridged foam panels to the exterior of your home.
2. Your windows and doors. This is a controversial area amongst the trades. The absolute best windows boast an R value of 4, whereas your standard double pane bypass glass is roughly R-1. If you upgrade, you’ll end up spending $1000/ window for just 3 extra points. On one hand, you might consider that in a standard room the window only covers about 15% of the wall area. This is a frustratingly low R-value per dollar and may not seem worth the energy savings. On the other hand, some tradespeople argue that having drafty windows in the winter is like running your air conditioner and furnace at the same time. They pump cold air into your home, and while new windows may not have a high R value, they come pre sealed and can be installed with zero drafts. If you’re on the fence and aren’t sure whether the upgrade is worth the cost, consider that there are incentives offered by the Ontario government for many green home upgrades, including windows!
3. Attic insulation. Upgrading your attic insulation is without a doubt the fastest, least expensive, and has best R value of any of the improvements listed above. Heat rises, and attic insulation stops it from escaping. Twenty years ago, the Ontario Building Code’s minimum attic R Rating was R32. Today’s Code requires R-60, which means most homes are ready for a blown-in cellulose top up. This will allow you to touch up any settling of the existing insulation as well as give you an opportunity to repair any water or wind damage to the insulation in your attic. The best part about blown-in cellulose (aside from its ability to keep your home nice and toasty) is that it’s a recycled product! 80-85% of the cellulose is made from post-consumer waste paper fibre, with the remaining 15-20% comprised of fire retardants to keep your home safe. It’s an excellent product that you can feel good about installing!
Bonus: If you’re already in your attic topping up the insulation, you have the opportunity to improve your venting for very little expense! The cost of materials to install better venting is surprisingly low, and they can be installed very easily if your attic is already open for the insulation top-up. Better venting will reduce the amount cooling you need in the hot months and extend the life of your shingles. For more information about the benefits of proper venting, click on the House Health link at the top of the page!
Upgrading your insulation cuts energy consumption and is a great way to make your home more Earth-friendly, with the added benefit of lowering your heating bills! Be sure to check out our other insulation and venting articles in our House Health blog for more tips on how to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer!