This is the first in a series of articles that will run once a week through the end of March on the subject of residential energy and how homeowners can save both energy and dollars. The articles will go beyond just a series of energy-saving tips and hopefully be helpful to area residents in better understanding how a home functions as a whole system. This understanding can be translated into cost-effective, energy-efficiency improvements.
Improving home energy efficiency is often not tangible or something that can be shown off, such as a new kitchen or bathroom. However, it does let you keep more of your money to spend or save, and it helps protect against future increases in the price of energy. Energy efficiency improvements typically increase the comfort level of your home and are always good for the environment.
Conceptualizing the home as a functioning interconnected system is similar to the holistic view of human health. Just as it is wiser to address the person as a whole instead of curing a body's separate parts, so it is more effective to look at the overall functioning of your home's energy system to determine the source of a problem.
One example common with homes in New England is the problem of ice dams on roofs, typically at the eaves. It is not fixed at the source of the problem by installing electric heaters and metal roofing; it is fixed by stopping warm air leaks in the attic. Warm air that reaches attic sheathing melts snow, allowing water to move toward the eaves where it freezes again, causing a dam; water backs up under the shingles. Inadequate insulation at the eaves that is easily correctable and leaky forced hot-air ducts in the attic are two potential causes of ice dams-demonstrating how different house components are connected to cause a problem.
Future articles will continue on the theme of the house as a whole system, and hopefully dispel some myths on topics such as insulation, air sealing, windows, heating systems, heating hot water, air conditioning, ventilation systems, appliances and lights, and energy efficiency financing.
Tim Gould is director of Energy Egghead, an Amesbury-based which can be found at www.ENERGYEGGHEAD.COM and provides professional energy audit and conservation services.
