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RE4 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, September 29, 1998 fTry our energy Are you an energy wise homeowner? Try this d) For quiz to find out. above 20 1. When insulation w<rk is undertaken, it iS 'jnpIiun important to meet or exceed the reconsmended c) Cauli thermal resistance values. Can you match the type can value or range of values listed helow to the cor- well as ar rect area? costly pro a) RSI 4.7 (R 27) 1) Becai b) RSI 2.2 (R 13) generally c) RSI 4.7 to7.1 (R 27 to40) d) RSI 3.0 to4.5 (R 17 to 26) 1) roof or ceiling 1. a-2; 1: 2) floor over unheated spaces 2. a) Fa 3) frame waîîs is not bas, 4) basement walls in RSI (m 2. True or false? or R valu a) The thermal resistance value of insulation is some casc hased solely on thickness. 25 millimetres of any tion can h type of insulation will always insulate as well as one milir 25 millimetres of another. b) Fait b) Increasing insulation is always the first step always bc homeowners should take to improve the energy other air1 efticiency of th eir homes. It's the best investment insulatior for your energy conservation dollar. before bel c) Fluorescent light use 60 to 75 per cent îess c) Truc energy to produce the same amount of light as changing incandescent bulbs - and last longer. can really quiz to see if you're saving money each degree you set your thermostat 9C (on a 24-hour basis), your fuel con- -i 'ill iO c r.îw ican . of- il per cclii kîîg inateials aie aIlthe sainle. ..Xîy une seal the different joints in your bouse as mother, so it makes sense to buy the least oduct. ause hot air rises, insulating the attic will make a house passably energy efficient. Answers b-4; c-1; d-3. sîlse. 'Me thermal resistance of insulation csd solely on its îhickness. Lt is measured icetrie) or R (imperial). The higher the RSI le, the better the material insulates. In ses, two millimetres of one type of insula- have a lower thermal resistance value than nmetre of another material. se. No single efficiency measure will )e most appropriate in cvery case. Asscss leakage in your home, existing levels of i and the condition of the heating systcm ginning an energy conservation program. ie. Small encrgy saving measures like from incandescent to fluorescent fixture y add up. d) True. And the reverse is also truc: for cach degrec you set your thermostat below 20 C on a 21S hîinr hasi'. tiiel coîîîsiiptiun i iI drop h about 5 lier cent. c) False. Some caulking materials are safe or appropriate only for use outsidc. Others are designed for special applications, such as areas subject to high moisture levels. Some materials dry clear and others can be paintcd over after they are dry. It is always best 10 choose carefully as many materials as requircd for the applications you have Give your home Once again, i's the time of year to pack away the beach balls, lawn chairs and other summer paraphernalia and brace your home for the onslaught of cooler weathcr. And whilc wintcr may still scem like a distant rcality, it will arrive on your doorstcp sooner than you think - literally. So, before you get "lcft out in the cold," with a drafty, poorly insulated home, now's the ideal time to give it a thorough faîl tunc-up to make sure it operates at peak level this faîl and winter. planned. Inexpensive caulking materials may not be very durable or effective. f) t"aise c it li ~iii n dn ii '- tienIS -uLp.dcîss n or sieevýa>s as ling as it's moving from a warm spot t0 a colder one. Attic insulation will help improve the encrgy efficiency of your home but by itsclf will not make your home cncrgy efficient. Other measures, such as com- prehensive draftproofing and basement wall insulation, also warrant serions con- sideration. a fail tune-up Much like the engine of a car, your home deserves ongoing maintenance. And sirîce your home likely represents the largestsin- gle invcstment you've ever made, doesn't it make sense t0 treat it to soîne tender lîv- ing care? Check Windows and Doors It's a good idea to start with a thorough check of your windows and doors. Cracks around these arcas can let in chilly drafts whilc letting valuable heat ont. You can check for drafts quite ca.sily hy holding up a feather or a piece of tissue paper suspcnded from a hanger t0 the areas where you suspect there may be leaks. If the feather or tissue moves indepcndently, you' ve located a draft. To solve this problem, you can caulk or apply weather stripping. These can bc pur- chased at your local hardware or building centre. Both materials are available under a widc variety of product names. If your windows or doors are in extreme- ly poor shape, you may want 10 think about replacing thcm altogether with some of today' s cnergy-cfficient altemnatives. Also make sure there arc no drafts coin- ing in around your power outlets. These should be properly insulated as well. Synthetic Foams For large gaps or holes, there are several varicties of synthetic spray-foams that you can buy. A small amount is squirted into, the gap and it expands to filI the hole. Excess material can then bc rcmovcd. This dense filler is an ideal way to insulate around difficult, hard-to-reach areas. When using any of these produets, be sure to rcad the manufacturers instructions and follow thcm carcfully, because some substances can iritate skin and cyes. Check Basement Conduet the same draft test on ail flors of your home - including your basînent. And whilc you're down there, check around for any cracks or holes in the foun- dation walls - if your basenient is unfin- ished. These should bc repaircd before îhey worsen. If you dont think you'll bc able 10 handle the job yourself, consult an expert. If your basement is unfinishcd, you may want to, think about insulating the wholc thing. Again, if you're not particularly handy, you may want 10 hire a contractor for this type of undertaking. Furnace or Boiler While sîjîl in the basement, bc sure 10 check your fumnace or boiler. This, afiter ail, is the "hub- of your heating systeru and requires regular maintenance 10 give you good performance. Ideally, il should be checked annually by an expert t0 make sure cverything is in good working order. Its probably advisable 10, try and book a 'checkup- or cleaning with your utility or fuel company before the faîl rush gets int full swing. Also be sure and move any items you may have stored near or around your fur- nace or boiler before tumning it on - and make sure the space around it is dlean and free of dust or combustible materials.