New Year: Out with the Old, In with the New
We’re three months into the new year, and that means there’s still plenty of time to tackle your 2018 goals of improving your home. Home performance upgrades are some of the best improvements you can make to your home this year. These upgrades not only conserve energy and improve home comfort but also boost home value and lower monthly energy bills. Here is a look at four home performance upgrades to consider as you do “out with the old and in with the new” in 2018.
Remove Old, Inefficient Insulation
Many homes from western Massachusetts contain old, dirty, or inefficient insulation. If you want to improve home performance, it’s important to remove any old or dirty insulation that is compromising your home’s energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Because old insulation may contain contaminants and harmful substances such as asbestos, insulation removal is a job best left to a professional.
Air Seal
Air sealing is one of the most commonly overlooked improvements by Massachusetts homeowners, yet it can significantly improve home comfort and efficiency. When done right, air sealing eliminates holes and cracks that allow air to seep into and out of the home. This prevents drafts, reduces home energy consumption, and makes indoor temperatures more consistent. Air sealing is a key step that should take place before new insulation installation.
Install New, High Efficiency Insulation
Once air leaks have been properly sealed, having new, high efficiency insulation installed will create a thermal barrier around your home’s living spaces. This thermal barrier will keep indoor warmth inside during the winter and block summer heat out during the summer, improving indoor comfort year-round. As you plan to re-insulate, be sure to work with a contractor who will install high performance materials such as spray foam and cellulose.
Install a High Efficiency Heating System
Have your heating bills been astronomically high this winter? It could be due to an older or inefficient heating system. Today’s heating units offer exceptionally high energy efficiency, meaning that upgrading your old unit before it breaks down completely could offer you major energy savings along with significantly improved home comfort.
Whether you live in the Pioneer Valley, east in Worcester County, or west in the Berkshires, the Energia experts can handle all of these home performance upgrades and more. Through an energy audit, we’ll find out exactly what is detracting from your home’s performance and then recommend effective solutions to help you improve your home the right way in 2018.