Energy Efficient Home Your Energy Costs Are Going Through The Roof

“A chain is only as good as its weakest link” when restated for home energy conservation purposes is: A home’s energy efficiency and comfort is only as good as its’ thermal package. The thermal package is everything
between you on the inside of your home and the outdoors which helps you to maintain the temperature you find most ideal or comfortable. The material most common to creating this resistance is known as insulation. Insulation is measured by its’ depth or thickness and is calculated to effectiveness by its resistance to temperature differences on either side of the insulation commonly referred to as the “R-Value”. The R-Value is described by a number where the higher the number the more resistance there is to transferring the temperature through the object. In this case the object is the home.

Let’s start with the top of the home which is the most important. In the winter, after a snow look to the roof tops to see how long the snow stays on the roof. If the snow clings to the roof the home is better insulated than the house whose roof has melted the snow off. You are looking for signs of a well insulated attic or roof. To determine if a home has a well insulated attic when it is not snowing go and check the attic to see if it has any insulation, how much and its’ condition. If the insulation is matted the R-Value, the amount of resistance is diminished. Check to see that all areas are covered verses just spotty applications. An attic that is only partially insulated is like going outside without a hat on a cold winter’s day.