Typical Home Improvements
Before |
Improved |
Although your contractor will develop a plan specific to your home, common recommendations include:
Sealing air leaks and adding insulation
Air leaks, like those in attics, around chimneys, and through recessed lighting fixtures, are a significant source of energy loss in a home. In total, the number of air leaks in your home can easily add up to the equivalent of leaving a door open. Sealing air leaks is critical to improving the overall efficiency of your home and will make your HVAC equipment perform better. It will also make your house less drafty and more comfortable.
Along with air sealing, your contractor may recommend that you add insulation. Many older homes are not well-insulated, and some have no insulation at all. Properly installed insulation in attics, walls, and floors provides for more even temperatures throughout the house and results in a quieter, more comfortable living environment that is easier and less costly to heat and cool.
Sealing and insulating ductwork
Many homes have leaky ductwork and poor air flow, resulting in uncomfortable rooms—regardless of the thermostat setting. Your contractor may recommend sealing your home’s ducts with mastic, and balancing the duct system to optimize air flow to all rooms. Insulating ductwork in attics and crawlspaces also can reduce energy usage and increase your home’s overall comfort.
Improving heating and cooling systems
If your heat pump, furnace, or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, your contractor may recommend replacing it with a unit that is ENERGY STAR® qualified and is properly sized. Installed correctly, high-efficiency units can help you save on heating and cooling costs. A properly-sized unit will make your home more comfortable year-round by providing more consistent temperatures and better humidity control regardless of changing outdoor temperatures.
Fixing your combustion equipment
If the contractor finds that your combustion equipment, such as your furnace or water heater, is not operating and venting properly, they will make the recommendations needed to ensure the safety of your home.
Upgrading lighting and appliances
Energy used for lighting and appliances can account for half of your home’s total energy consumption. As a result, your contractor may recommend ENERGY STAR qualified products, such as refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers, and compact fluorescent light bulbs.