Looking High And Low For Heat Loss

 With the colder, winter months almost upon us, it’s only natural to start thinking about how well-equipped your home is to handle the change in temperature. Just as our hats and mittens help us prevent losing precious body heat, so too does the proper insulation and enclosure of the structure of your home prevent heat loss and increase energy performance.

Understanding Air Flow

Air infiltration is a major cause of energy loss in homes. Far too often, improperly sealed attics or crawlspaces are the culprit. When insulated and closed, these spaces act to reflect warm heat back inside your home, and keep colder, outside air from entering. However the opposite holds true if these areas are not properly looked after- known as the ‘stack effect’, convection will cause heated air to rise through the roof, while new, cold air to fill the air void is drawn in through your crawlspace, basement and the outside.

Reducing Heat Loss

From both an environmental and economic point of view, it doesn’t make sense to heat both your home and the outside. The first step to home heat efficiency is to schedule an energy assessment. Each house is unique, and an energy audit expert can identify the specific ways in which your home is losing heat. From here, you can decide which energy efficiency options are right for both your home and your budget- whether it’s insulating your attic, installing a radiant barrier or enclosing your crawlspace, there are simple steps you can take immediately to improve the performance of your home.

Planning for a Sustainable Future

With these tough economic times, many homeowners cannot afford an all-out upgrade to a fully sustainable home. The good news is that several government tax credits exist to help make the transition to more efficient home energy systems a little more affordable. Depending on the type of solution, homeowners can receive up to 60% off the initial upgrade cost. Green Horizon also offers financing options of up to $25,000 for those looking to go green. Even if you can’t afford a complete overhaul now, by discussing energy and financing options with a green home energy consultant today, you can establish a schedule of planned upgrades to help achieve a more sustainable lifestyle for tomorrow.