Flood Debris Impact and Other Hazards

Part 6 of How Can A Flood Damage Your Home. Floodwaters can pick up and carry objects of all types – from small to large, from light to heavy – including trees, portions of flood-damaged buildings, automobiles, boats, storage tanks, mobile homes, and even entire homes. In cold climates, wintertime floods can also carry large […]


Weatherize Your Home: Weatherstripping

Part 3 of Weatherize Your Home. Selection Weatherstripping can seal leaks around movable joints, such as windows or doors. You need to choose a type of weatherstrip-ping that will withstand the friction, weather, temperature changes, and wear and tear associated with its location. For example, when applied to a door bottom or threshold, weatherstripping could […]


Weatherize Your Home: Assessment

Part 1 of Weatherize Your Home. Warmed or air-conditioned air mixes with outside air through gaps in your home’s thermal envelope—exterior walls, windows, doors, the roof, and floors. Such air leaks can waste large amounts of energy. Most experts agree that caulking and weather stripping any gaps will pay for itself within one year in […]


Window Options for Passive Solar Power

Most of us are aware that windows provide us with natural light, ventilation, and a view. But windows still remain the least understood building design component, even though many homeowners place much importance on the functioning and energy efficiency of their windows. Windows transmit not only sunlight but also both indoor heat and solar heat […]


Installation Quality Control (Loose-fill insulations)

Part 6 of Loose-Fill Insulation. Voids and Gaps To ensure a quality installation, there are several things to watch out for when installing loose-fill insulation—whether you do the job yourself or hire a professional. You may create undesirable voids or gaps if you install the insulation at too low a density or if you do […]


Controlling Air Leaks

Part 2 of Energy-Efficient Windows. When air leaks around windows, energy is wasted. Energy is also transferred through the centers, edges, and frames of windows. Eliminating or reducing these paths of heat flow can greatly improve the energy efficiency of windows and, ultimately, of homes. Several options are available to reduce air leaks around windows; […]


Energy-Efficient Windows

Part 1 of Energy-Efficient Windows. Windows bring light, warmth, and beauty into buildings and give a feeling of openness and space to living areas. They can also be major sources of heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. In 1990 alone, the energy used to offset unwanted heat losses and gains […]


Manage Your Home’s Ventilation

Part 7 of Cooling Your Home Naturally with Fans and Ventilation. Remember the following if you plan to cool your home with ventilation: Learn how air flows naturally through your house. Take advantage of cool night air, and ventilate your home by natural or mechanical methods. Keep a clear path for airflow both inside and […]


Natural Ventilation: The “Chimney Effect”

Part 2 of Cooling Your Home Naturally with Fans and Ventilation. Natural ventilation relies on the wind and the “chimney effect” to keep a home cool. Moving air ventilates your home by entering or leaving windows, depending on their orientation to the wind. When wind blows against your home, air is forced into your windows. […]


Weatherization Projects

Part 4 of A Guide to Making Energy-Smart Purchases. Weatherization projects insulate and tighten the shell of the home. Such projects include, but are not restricted to, caulking and weatherstripping, improving or replacing windows, and installing insulation. Caulking and Weatherstripping Caulking and weatherstripping are the easiest and least expensive weatherization measures and can save more […]