If you had to do your own audit of where energy was escaping your home, where would you start? If you’re like a lot of Little Rock homeowners, you’d probably look at doors and windows. Many people think that gaps around doors and windows are the biggest energy wasters. They certainly are a concern, but what if I told you that it wasn’t the biggest concern? So what is the biggest problem when it comes energy savings? Read on to find out! How Much Air Escapes Through Windows? Because we can see through them to the outside, and we open and close our windows frequently, we often think that windows are a major energy savings concern. Perhaps we want to choose thicker windows, double-paned options, or simply focus on sealing drafts and leaks around the windows. There’s nothing wrong with those efforts! However, they only save a small portion of your energy loss. Most sources say that homes lose 10% of their energy through windows. So yes, definitely work on drafts and windows. Here’s a guide that will help you find and plug air leaks. But other things make a bigger difference. Second-Most Energy Loss: The Attic Ah, of course, the attic! Everyone knows a lot of their heated and cooled air escapes when their attic isn’t well-insulated. 25% of your energy loss goes through an uninsulated roof and attic. Consider getting an energy audit to find the problems you’re having upstairs. This is especially important in the winter – heat rises, so a poorly insulated attic can be a major concern! Don’t assume that reinsulating will...
It’s important to save money when you own your home. You never know what will pop up that needs to be addressed. However, it can be hard to find simple cost savings. Fortunately, energy savings are a great source of financial help. When you reduce the energy you need to heat and cool your home, you win – not only financially, but in terms of comfort as well! How do you find these savings? Simple – by having an energy audit of your home. Here’s what an audit is and how it can save you money! What is an Energy Audit? Very simply, an energy audit helps you understand how much energy you’re currently using and what measures you can take to become more energy efficient. While you can try to do one yourself, a professional energy audit is often better at spotting the real culprits of energy overuse. Professionals already know what to look for, so they can work through your home much more quickly. What to Expect During an Audit There are two kinds of assessments, the visual-only Home Energy Survey and the General Energy Audit, which includes doing tests with diagnostic equipment. The Home Energy Survey takes about an hour to complete and includes an overview of doors, windows, insulation, and ducts, along with your heating and cooling equipment. The assessor will also look at your appliances, lighting, and visible moisture, health, and safety issues. They will also review your energy bills to find opportunities for energy savings. The General Energy Audit includes the above but also includes diagnostic tests such as a blower...
So things are heating up at home and you need a way to keep cool and stop your power bill from skyrocketing. Well, insulation is a good place to start. Keeping the heat out is much more cost effective than constantly cooling new hot air from outside. The reason your cooling bill can get so out of hand is more often than not an installation problem. Not only will bad insulation cause your AC to work longer it will have to work harder. Two problems come from increased used and strain on your system. One is the much higher energy usage resulting in peak usage premiums from your energy provider. The other problem is the extra strain often causes breakdowns of your unit that also result in extra cost. Keep in mind, all insulation is not created equal, and it can settle and lose its effectiveness over time. If your home is more than a few years old your insulation could have settled and lost some of its effectiveness if a cheap product was used. Or if the builder only insulated to the minimum requirement you may be able to save big by updating and improving your insulation. Let’s look at some of the options. Blown or sprayed insulation? There are different kinds of blown insulation, and different methods for spraying it into your attics, down your walls, and under your floor. Okay, so you’re probably wondering what the difference is right? Well, let’s start with blown insulation. Blown insulation refers to blowing an insulation product into areas such as floors, your home’s walls, your attic, and other gaps...
Energy savings is at the top of the list of summer goals for most people. Here are a few tips to help you beat the heat and keep your electric bill down this year. Set your air conditioner thermostat as high as comfortably possible. We recommend 78ºF or higher when you’re home. Use a smart thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature. Resist the urge to turn your thermostat down too far. Lowering the temperature does not speed up how fast your home cools down. Experiment with the temperature and find the highest setting you can comfortably use. Make sure you have your unit serviced regularly. A properly functioning air conditioner can greatly reduce the amount of energy used to operate a unit. If you are using your air conditioner daily consider changing your filters monthly instead of every three months. A clean filter will allow air to flow more easily, causing your unit to work more efficiently. During the day close your blinds and block any source of outside heat. At night open up your home while it’s cool. This is a very basic, yet extremely cost effective way to increase your energy savings. Use Window, ceiling and whole-house fans to stay comfortable. They cool a room down by circulating the air and creating a breeze. Whole-house fans pull cooler air from outside in, and push the hot air in the attic out, causing your home to cool down. Both traditional fans and whole-house fans use much less energy than running an air conditioner. Keep your indoor heet down. Turn off any lights you don’t...
The team at Reeves Insulation, LLC knows a thing or two about how to properly insulate a building to keep the interior temperature comfortable. The R Value inside the walls isn’t the only thing that makes a room feel cozy and comfortable. Here are a few tips on how you can make your room look as cosy as it feels. 1. Use Layers. Layering things like the light sources in the room, the rugs, and any textured decor will give your room a cozy feel to it. To layer lighting try and give your room more than just one source of light. Keep the lighting at eye level and at varying degrees of usefulness. Fairy lights are a charming way to add a delicate layer of light to a room. A lamp is the perfect way to create a cozy, functional reading space. A fireplace might be the most cozy element any room can have. It gives off warm lighting and functions as a heat source during cold winter months, which could help if the R value in your home is not up to par. What is R Value you ask? Go here to see what it’s all about, and how R value can affect your home. 2. Texture. Texture brings charm and cozyness to a room the same way layers do. Fill the room with throws, pillows, wallpaper, decor and more. The best and easiest way to add texture to a room? Throws. If the room feels like it needs something simple to make it more cozy, add a throw somewhere. Add several throws, depending on the size and functionality...
There are more than just financial benefits to making your home more energy efficient. Energy savings has the potential to help improve our lives in many ways. Are you interested in making your home more energy efficient? Give us a call. Reeves Insulation, LLC offers energy audits. Call us for a free estimation: (870) 793-2623. 1. Energy Savings is Good Investment. Most homeowners considering home efficiency upgrades and energy savings are doing so to lower their utility bills. This is a great way to save over years of living in an efficient home. The cost of making your home more energy efficient might scare some people off. Big home upgrades are not cheap. However, the money you spend will make it back to you in utility bills savings over years of use. 2. Energy Efficient Homes have a Higher Market Value. Looking to sell your home? Getting your home certified as energy efficient will increase its value. Energy efficient homes have better windows, more comfortable interior temperature, newer appliances and equipment, and more. Even if you are not planning on selling your home. The upgrades you make will go towards a better quality home for you and your family to live. The new technology used for energy efficiency has a lower risk of breaking down. By reducing the moisture in the air you also cut down on the risk of finding mold in your home. Mold damage is expensive, inconvenient, and can be hazardous to your health. 3. Energy Efficiency will Improve your Quality of Life. There are many qualities you add to your house to make it a home....
