A Guide to Identifying and Resolving Area of Insulation Simple Insulation for the Basic Home

Primarily used for thermal regulation of buildings For comfort For savings Goal is to reduce unwanted heat loss or gain Note: Insulation also used to conserve cool temps in summer Air leakage can lead to other more expensive problems Ie. Moisture problems, poor indoor air quality, mold Water leakage is also a consideration in terms of insulation Introduction

Learn to capture good thermal imaging of house. Identify areas of inadequate insulation using images from above Determine cost effectiveness vs quality of insulation material Goals and Objectives

Common Areas

At this stage, begin at the windows Windows are the most common areas of culprit and the easiest to fix Windows may contain: Cracks, openings from misaligned windows, Next we can begin to look at areas such as: Basements, which are often neglected and poorer in quality Attics, for the same reason, Doors, which may have the same problems as windows Where to Begin

Here is a list of materials for the simplest solutions: Caulking (sealant), used to seal cracks or small openings. Offers a short term solution, perhaps 1-2 years but the cheapest option and the easiest Weatherstripping (strips of material used to seal cracks or openings) Another short term solution that lasts as long as the material is able to last Examples of materials: Felt Vinyl Rubber Poly foam EPDM cellular rubber (BEST option here) Vinyl tubing Primary Solutions

Long term solutions offer the best for savings but require more time and expertise for installing, it is also more expensive Depending on the severity a house may need: Installation of fiberglass insulation in the interior of the walls Other materials are available depending on location and condition of the place to be fixed Complete reinstallation of windows, doors, flooring Fix on the ventilation system of the house Long Term Solutions

A Guide to Identifying Efficient Lighting for a Residential Home Basics of Lighting

Primary expense of electricity bill is the lighting of a room Affected by the bulb, amount of lighting, placement of lighting, and frequency of use. Introduction

Identify areas of poor lighting Identify areas of outdated/poor fixtures Identify areas of outdated/poor bulbs Reduce the chances of light pollution Thus decreasing the necessity for more light Goals and Objective

First, ask the resident (if available) about the conditions of the fixtures Have they been replaced? How old are they? When were they installed? Carry on from there If not, identify areas that seems to have poor lighting and assess why that is. Make sure to always look at the areas of heavy light usage Ie. Living room, dining room, kitchen, anywhere else depending on family Work to find best fixture and bulb for the area and under the resident’s budget Where to Begin

Tell the resident to keep the lights OFF when not in use. Offer suggestions on certain fixtures that are energy efficient to be replaced For the short term and cheaper option if a replacement of fixture is not possible: Offer the installation of CFL (compact fluorescent) light bulbs (if the fixture is compatible) Comes in various sizes, very efficient, and offers same lighting, Solutions