“B” is for Button-Up!

Here in the Northeast, we are “experts” in home winterization.  Each Fall, homeowners flock to the local hardware, building supply and department stores to load up on plastic window kits, weather stripping and door draft stoppers.  With the new Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency, now may be a good time to do more permanent changes to our home, than the standard annual buttoning up many homeowners do.

To help you get the most bang for your buck, it is a good idea to start your project with an Energy Audit of your home.  You might believe that your windows need to be replaced but in fact they may need to be reinstalled with proper use of caulking, ice and water shield, and insulation.  An Energy Audit will help eliminate the risk of spending money on products and services you don’t need.  Here is a link to information about how an Energy Audit is conducted, and what the purpose of an audit is.  Energy Savers: Home Energy Audits. 

When your Energy Audit is complete, you may be able to complete some of the updates with a little bit of knowhow and a few trips to the local building supply store.  DoItYourself.com has an in-depth article on weatherizing your home including a materials and tools checklist and list of different types of caulking and their pros and cons.  How to Weatherize Your Home.

ThisOldHouse.com is always filled with relevant home improvement articles.  10 Ways to Shrink Your Energy Bills has some great ideas regarding improving the efficiency of your home.  New Insulation Options describes types of insulation, explains their ingredients and performance.

To wrap up this fairly long blog, if you are looking for more energy efficiency ideas that you don’t need to search through multiple websites to find, you will not find a more comprehensive source than The Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings.  This book is published by  on a yearly basis and is filled with up-to-date ideas that can be applied to new construction as well as renovations.