Budgeting On Energy Improvement and Insulation

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Budgeting On Energy Improvement
Replacing old windows provides a good example of how to evaluate the true cost savings of an energy-wise home improvement. New energy-efficient windows are expensive, but can significantly reduce heating and cooling expenses. When building a new house, it pays to install the most efficient windows that you can afford. On an older home, however, the long-term savings from replacing windows is less clear-cut. With the cost of labor and materials, the payback period can easily reach 15 to 20 years. You may wish to consider other improvements first. Adding storm windows, weatherstripping, and low-emissivity coating can cut drafts for much less money. Repairing rotted window sill and loose panes also can improve energy efficiency for much less than the cost of replacing the window.

Insulation
Insulation helps keep heat inside in winter and outside in summer. Because hot air rises, the most important place to have insulation is your attic. If it is accessible and doesn’t have a floor, installing insulation – or adding more – is an easy job. Installing insulation in walls is also ways if you are remodeling and replacing the interior wallboard or exterior siding. But if you want to insulate intact walls, your only choice is to have an insulation into the wall cavities through small holes bored in your house’s exterior; the holes are patched when the job is completed.

If your house has an enclosed crawl space, an insulation contractor may recommend that you insulate the interior foundation walls, which is often easier to do and more effective than putting insulation between the floor joists. But if you have an unheated basement or an open crawl space, it’s necessary to put insulation between the joists.