HE 102
FIRST THINGS FIRST
What To Do Before Investing in Home Insulation
little things mean a lot
There is no question that a well weatherized home is a well insulated home. But insulation is not the only thing you can do to save energy dollars. It is not even necessarily the first thing you should do. There are several measures which cost less money, but provide significant fuel savings. They are tested, no-risk common-sense measures which should be part of any serious household energy conservation program. In energy conservation, even little things mean a lot.
The energy crisis has created an enormous interest in fuel conservation. Many homeowners are now exploring ways to weatherize their houses, making them more comfortable and less expensive to heat and cool. This mushrooming interest has caused problems. New, untested products are being placed on the market to take advantage of high consumer demand for conservation. In a few cases, unscrupulous people have gone into the home weatherization business. Demand for home insulation is so high that there is a nationwide shortage of good insulating materials. And many homeowners, believing that insulation is the first thing they should do, have sunk major investments into insulation materials of questionable safety and efficiency. Such problems have occurred especially among homeowners who have insulated outside walls.
Despite the problems, home weatherization remains an important and advantageous thing to do. Done carefully and wisely, it's one of the best investments a homeowner can make. The money saved each month on heating and cooling bills is like an extra paycheck, with one notable exception: you don't have to pay taxes on the money you "earn" by lowering your home's energy consumption. In addition, a weatherized home is a more valuable and more saleable home. Buyers are more concerned than ever about energy efficiency, and many homeowners find that the money they've invested in weatherization is returned in higher sale prices when they market their homes,
FIRST THINGS FIRST
This pamphlet outlines five steps you can take to weatherize your home. The steps are arranged for the typical Wisconsin home in order of greatest savings for lowest cost. The steps are:
•Controlling Indoor Temperatures • Controlling Air Leaks •Maintaining Heating Systems •Reducing Heat Loss through Windows •Adding Insulation
To carry out your home weatherization program, start with step number one and work your way down the list as far as your budget will allow.
1. Control Indoor Temperatures
Thermostat adjustment is one of the ways you can operate your household so that it wastes as little fuel as possible.
Much energy can be saved by heating or cooling only those Portions of the home in which heating and cooling are really Pessary. Turn off heat or air-conditioning in unused rooms.
In those rooms which are in use, make sure that curtains, furniture and other objects do not block radiators or registers. Then, adjust your thermostat so that you are heating or cooling only as much as is really necessary.
For each degree you reduce your indoor temperatures during the heating season, you will save about 3 per cent on fuel. For example, turning down your thermostat from 72 degrees to 68 degrees will save about 12 percent of your home's heating energy. Turn your thermostats down even further at night and when you are away from home. Contrary to popular opinion, warming your house back up does not use more fuel than you have saved. During the summer, set your air conditioner at a comfortable 78 degrees.
When cutting off heat or reducing indoor temperatures, be careful not to freeze water pipes. If necessary, use heat tapes and insulation to protect exposed pipes. For pipes within outside walls, keep indoor temperatures high enough to prevent freezing.
Thermostat adjustments cost nothing, but they can save a significant amount of fuel. If you wish, you can invest in a clock thermostat which will adjust indoor temperatures automatically.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47907