Energy Retrofits
Today, we have a wide variety of materials, construction methods, and heating technologies that can dramatically reduce the energy consumption of your home, improve air quality, and lower your operating costs. Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor will recommend the energy retrofits best suited for your particular home.
Here are some examples of energy retrofits for existing homes:
Attic:
In most homes, the attic is the easiest and most cost effective area to re-insulate.
Modern materials such as blown-in cellulose or loose fibreglass make it possible for your attic insulation to be upgraded in just a few hours, often to the level of a newly constructed home.
Read MoreWhen upgrading attic insulation, it is important to ensure your attic is properly ventilated, and that you seal any air leakage between the attic and the living space. Once you increase the insulation in your attic, the attic space will then remain cooler because there is less heat loss through the ceiling. This can create a condition where warm, humid air leaking into the attic could condense on the now colder under-side of the roof deck, which could cause it to rot over time if the problem is not addressed through proper air sealing and/or ventilation.
Also, before adding insulation to your attic, it is important to ensure your current insulation does not contain asbestos. Your Energy Advisor will let you know if your existing insulation is of the type that should be tested for asbestos.
Windows:
There have been significant improvements in window construction in recent years. A newer Energy Star vinyl window is approximately 50% more efficient than a conventional double-pane wood frame window.
Read MoreEnergy Star is a certification program designed to ensure windows meet certain minimum specifications, including:
Low E, or low emissivity coating: This is a thin, invisible coating on the glass surface that causes more of the infra-red energy in the room to be reflected back into the room during the heating season. It has a similar effect in the summer, reflecting energy from the sun to the exterior, helping to keep the interior cooler.
Argon gas filled: The space between the glass panes is filled with argon gas instead of air. Argon is a more viscous gas than air, resulting in a higher insulating value.
Insulated spacers: The glass spacers in an Energy Star window are made of a non-metallic insulating material. Because metal is a superb heat conductor, metal spacers on older windows account for a significant amount of heat loss.
Air tightness: Energy Star windows must also meet certain air tightness standards resulting in less air leakage.
Doors:
Newer, Energy Star rated doors offer greater insulating value and air tightness as compared to conventional wood or steel doors.
Read MoreIf there is a window in an Energy Star rated door, that window is also Energy Star rated.
Energy Star rated doors are available in conventional steel finishes, or in fibreglass finishes for a more natural wood appearance.
Main Walls:
Today’s high-performance insulating materials and sophisticated application procedures make it possible to achieve insulation values in the walls of an existing home that are comparable to walls in newly constructed homes.
Read MoreIn many cases, cellulose insulation can be blown into the wall cavity from the inside, or from the outside by temporarily removing individual shingles or strips of siding. If you are planning interior renovations that involve removing the plaster or drywall, the walls can be insulated with fibreglass batts or spray foam.
Insulation can also be added on the exterior by removing the siding and adding rigid board insulation under new siding. The exterior layer of insulation has the added advantage of improving the effective R value of the wall assembly by significantly reducing the heat loss that occurs as a result of thermal bridging.
Your main walls typically make up the largest exterior surface area in your home. Upgrading wall insulation can therefore have a major impact on reducing heat loss.
Basement Walls:
Un-insulated or poorly insulated basement walls can result in a significant amount of heat loss, even if the basement is not used as living space.
Read MoreConcrete has a very low insulation value, and as long the temperature in the basement is higher than the outdoor temperature, there is heat loss through the basement wall. Thankfully, there are various effective methods and materials for insulating basement walls. The most common include spray foam insulation, rigid board insulation, fibreglass batts, or a combination of rigid board and fibreglass.
Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor can advise you on various options for insulating the basement walls in your home.
Heating Systems:
Today, we have high efficiency alternatives to conventional heating systems. Particularly, heat pumps can dramatically reduce the amount of energy required to heat your home.
Read MoreThere are two basic types of heat pumps:
Air Source Heat Pump: These draw energy from the air outside and use that energy to heat the inside of your home. Air source heat pumps use 2-3 times less energy than oil or electric baseboard heating systems. Delivery can be fully ducted forced air systems, or ductless systems commonly used for retrofits on existing homes where no ducting exists, or where installing ductwork would not be practical.
Geothermal heat pumps: Also known as ground source heat pumps. These draw energy from the ground and use that energy to heat the inside of your home. Because the energy is captured below the frost line, where the temperature remains relatively constant even on the coldest days of the winter, they are even more efficient than air source heat pumps. Delivery is typically forced air or in-floor hot water.
When considering a heating system upgrade, it is essential to address any air leakage problems and any un-insulated or poorly insulated areas of your home before choosing a new heating system. This is critical to ensure that the new heating system is sized properly for the newly insulated home. An over-sized heating system not only costs more to install and operate, but may result in excessive temperature swings and/or temperature variances in different parts of your home.
Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor can advise you on heating system retrofits suitable for your home.
Domestic Hot Water:
Domestic water heating is typically the second biggest energy expense in existing homes, second only to space heating. Fortunately, we now have alternatives to conventional oil and electric hot water systems.
Read MoreSolar pre-heating is one of those options. Heat from the sun is collected from solar panels and used to pre-heat the water going into your water heater, thus reducing the amount of energy required to heat your hot water.
Another option is drain water heat recovery. This device captures heat from your drain pipe as the drain water is flowing through it, using that heat energy to pre-heat the water going into the water heater. When using the shower, it can recover up to 40% of the heat that would normally be wasted.
Air Leakage:
Air leakage is an important consideration in all homes. In some existing homes, it can even be the biggest heat loss factor in the home! Fortunately, air leakage problems can often be remedied easily and inexpensively.
Read MoreDuring the Home Energy Evaluation, your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor will perform an Air Leakage Test. This involves installing a large fan in one of your door openings, closing all other doors and windows, then turning on the fan to depressurize the house slightly. This will cause air to be drawn in through leaky doors, windows, and various other areas where air can infiltrate your home. While the fan is running, your Energy Advisor will walk around the house with you to locate those air leaks, offer tips on how they can be sealed up, and leave you with a checklist of all leaks that were found.
Inexpensive remedies such as caulking, weather stripping and spray foam are usually the cure for air leakage. Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor can advise you on various solutions.
Ventilation:
Proper ventilation is a critical factor in an energy efficient home. Newer, more air tight homes require a ventilation system to control excess humidity and ensure a continuous supply of clean, breathable air.
Some older homes that have been upgraded may also require mechanical ventilation as the insulation and air sealing retrofits may have reduced the amount of natural air infiltration in the home. A house can never be too airtight, however, there is a threshold of air tightness at which point mechanical ventilation is required in order to maintain air quality and proper humidity levels.
Read MoreThe solution to ventilation in an air tight home is called a Heat Recovery Ventilator, or “HRV”. The HRV system allows the home to maintain high indoor air quality without excessive additional energy costs. It works by recovering some of the heat from the outgoing air to heat the incoming air. The result is a continuous supply of fresh air without losing all of the heat from the stale air being exhausted from the home.
Not all HRVs are created equal. Some are more efficient than others. There are two factors to consider when assessing the efficiency of HRVs:
1. Sensible Recovery Efficiency: This is a measure of how much heat the unit can recovery from the outgoing air. The higher the rating, the lower the demand on your heating system to heat the incoming air.
2. Power consumption: HRVs are designed to, and should run continuously. The power consumption of the unit is therefore an important consideration.
Visit www.hvi.org for information HRVs and ratings on specific models. We recommend only HVI certified HRVs. Investing in a high efficiency HRV can save you money in the long run!!.
Finally, it is important that the HRV be sized correctly for your home and be properly installed and balanced. Deal with a reputable supplier.
Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor can advise you if an HRV is warranted for your home.
There have been significant improvements in window construction in recent years. A newer Energy Star vinyl window is approximately 50% more efficient than a conventional double-pane wood frame window.
Read MoreEnergy Star is a certification program designed to ensure windows meet certain minimum specifications, including:
Low E, or low emissivity coating: This is a thin, invisible coating on the glass surface that causes more of the infra-red energy in the room to be reflected back into the room during the heating season. It has a similar effect in the summer, reflecting energy from the sun to the exterior, helping to keep the interior cooler.
Argon gas filled: The space between the glass panes is filled with argon gas instead of air. Argon is a more viscous gas than air, resulting in a higher insulating value.
Insulated spacers: The glass spacers in an Energy Star window are made of a non-metallic insulating material. Because metal is a superb heat conductor, metal spacers on older windows account for a significant amount of heat loss.
Air tightness: Energy Star windows must also meet certain air tightness standards resulting in less air leakage.
Doors:
Newer, Energy Star rated doors offer greater insulating value and air tightness as compared to conventional wood or steel doors.
Read MoreIf there is a window in an Energy Star rated door, that window is also Energy Star rated.
Energy Star rated doors are available in conventional steel finishes, or in fibreglass finishes for a more natural wood appearance.
Newer, Energy Star rated doors offer greater insulating value and air tightness as compared to conventional wood or steel doors.
Read MoreIf there is a window in an Energy Star rated door, that window is also Energy Star rated.
Energy Star rated doors are available in conventional steel finishes, or in fibreglass finishes for a more natural wood appearance.
Main Walls:
Today’s high-performance insulating materials and sophisticated application procedures make it possible to achieve insulation values in the walls of an existing home that are comparable to walls in newly constructed homes.
Read MoreIn many cases, cellulose insulation can be blown into the wall cavity from the inside, or from the outside by temporarily removing individual shingles or strips of siding. If you are planning interior renovations that involve removing the plaster or drywall, the walls can be insulated with fibreglass batts or spray foam.
Insulation can also be added on the exterior by removing the siding and adding rigid board insulation under new siding. The exterior layer of insulation has the added advantage of improving the effective R value of the wall assembly by significantly reducing the heat loss that occurs as a result of thermal bridging.
Your main walls typically make up the largest exterior surface area in your home. Upgrading wall insulation can therefore have a major impact on reducing heat loss.
Today’s high-performance insulating materials and sophisticated application procedures make it possible to achieve insulation values in the walls of an existing home that are comparable to walls in newly constructed homes.
Read MoreIn many cases, cellulose insulation can be blown into the wall cavity from the inside, or from the outside by temporarily removing individual shingles or strips of siding. If you are planning interior renovations that involve removing the plaster or drywall, the walls can be insulated with fibreglass batts or spray foam.
Insulation can also be added on the exterior by removing the siding and adding rigid board insulation under new siding. The exterior layer of insulation has the added advantage of improving the effective R value of the wall assembly by significantly reducing the heat loss that occurs as a result of thermal bridging.
Your main walls typically make up the largest exterior surface area in your home. Upgrading wall insulation can therefore have a major impact on reducing heat loss.
Basement Walls:
Basement Walls:
Un-insulated or poorly insulated basement walls can result in a significant amount of heat loss, even if the basement is not used as living space.
Read MoreConcrete has a very low insulation value, and as long the temperature in the basement is higher than the outdoor temperature, there is heat loss through the basement wall. Thankfully, there are various effective methods and materials for insulating basement walls. The most common include spray foam insulation, rigid board insulation, fibreglass batts, or a combination of rigid board and fibreglass.
Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor can advise you on various options for insulating the basement walls in your home.
Heating Systems:
Today, we have high efficiency alternatives to conventional heating systems. Particularly, heat pumps can dramatically reduce the amount of energy required to heat your home.
Read MoreThere are two basic types of heat pumps:
Air Source Heat Pump: These draw energy from the air outside and use that energy to heat the inside of your home. Air source heat pumps use 2-3 times less energy than oil or electric baseboard heating systems. Delivery can be fully ducted forced air systems, or ductless systems commonly used for retrofits on existing homes where no ducting exists, or where installing ductwork would not be practical.
Geothermal heat pumps: Also known as ground source heat pumps. These draw energy from the ground and use that energy to heat the inside of your home. Because the energy is captured below the frost line, where the temperature remains relatively constant even on the coldest days of the winter, they are even more efficient than air source heat pumps. Delivery is typically forced air or in-floor hot water.
When considering a heating system upgrade, it is essential to address any air leakage problems and any un-insulated or poorly insulated areas of your home before choosing a new heating system. This is critical to ensure that the new heating system is sized properly for the newly insulated home. An over-sized heating system not only costs more to install and operate, but may result in excessive temperature swings and/or temperature variances in different parts of your home.
Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor can advise you on heating system retrofits suitable for your home.
Un-insulated or poorly insulated basement walls can result in a significant amount of heat loss, even if the basement is not used as living space.
Read MoreConcrete has a very low insulation value, and as long the temperature in the basement is higher than the outdoor temperature, there is heat loss through the basement wall. Thankfully, there are various effective methods and materials for insulating basement walls. The most common include spray foam insulation, rigid board insulation, fibreglass batts, or a combination of rigid board and fibreglass.
Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor can advise you on various options for insulating the basement walls in your home.
Today, we have high efficiency alternatives to conventional heating systems. Particularly, heat pumps can dramatically reduce the amount of energy required to heat your home.
Read MoreThere are two basic types of heat pumps:
Air Source Heat Pump: These draw energy from the air outside and use that energy to heat the inside of your home. Air source heat pumps use 2-3 times less energy than oil or electric baseboard heating systems. Delivery can be fully ducted forced air systems, or ductless systems commonly used for retrofits on existing homes where no ducting exists, or where installing ductwork would not be practical.
Geothermal heat pumps: Also known as ground source heat pumps. These draw energy from the ground and use that energy to heat the inside of your home. Because the energy is captured below the frost line, where the temperature remains relatively constant even on the coldest days of the winter, they are even more efficient than air source heat pumps. Delivery is typically forced air or in-floor hot water.
When considering a heating system upgrade, it is essential to address any air leakage problems and any un-insulated or poorly insulated areas of your home before choosing a new heating system. This is critical to ensure that the new heating system is sized properly for the newly insulated home. An over-sized heating system not only costs more to install and operate, but may result in excessive temperature swings and/or temperature variances in different parts of your home.
Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor can advise you on heating system retrofits suitable for your home.
Domestic Hot Water:
Domestic water heating is typically the second biggest energy expense in existing homes, second only to space heating. Fortunately, we now have alternatives to conventional oil and electric hot water systems.
Read MoreSolar pre-heating is one of those options. Heat from the sun is collected from solar panels and used to pre-heat the water going into your water heater, thus reducing the amount of energy required to heat your hot water.
Another option is drain water heat recovery. This device captures heat from your drain pipe as the drain water is flowing through it, using that heat energy to pre-heat the water going into the water heater. When using the shower, it can recover up to 40% of the heat that would normally be wasted.
Domestic water heating is typically the second biggest energy expense in existing homes, second only to space heating. Fortunately, we now have alternatives to conventional oil and electric hot water systems.
Read MoreSolar pre-heating is one of those options. Heat from the sun is collected from solar panels and used to pre-heat the water going into your water heater, thus reducing the amount of energy required to heat your hot water.
Another option is drain water heat recovery. This device captures heat from your drain pipe as the drain water is flowing through it, using that heat energy to pre-heat the water going into the water heater. When using the shower, it can recover up to 40% of the heat that would normally be wasted.
Air Leakage:
Air leakage is an important consideration in all homes. In some existing homes, it can even be the biggest heat loss factor in the home! Fortunately, air leakage problems can often be remedied easily and inexpensively.
Read MoreDuring the Home Energy Evaluation, your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor will perform an Air Leakage Test. This involves installing a large fan in one of your door openings, closing all other doors and windows, then turning on the fan to depressurize the house slightly. This will cause air to be drawn in through leaky doors, windows, and various other areas where air can infiltrate your home. While the fan is running, your Energy Advisor will walk around the house with you to locate those air leaks, offer tips on how they can be sealed up, and leave you with a checklist of all leaks that were found.
Inexpensive remedies such as caulking, weather stripping and spray foam are usually the cure for air leakage. Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor can advise you on various solutions.
Ventilation:
Proper ventilation is a critical factor in an energy efficient home. Newer, more air tight homes require a ventilation system to control excess humidity and ensure a continuous supply of clean, breathable air.
Some older homes that have been upgraded may also require mechanical ventilation as the insulation and air sealing retrofits may have reduced the amount of natural air infiltration in the home. A house can never be too airtight, however, there is a threshold of air tightness at which point mechanical ventilation is required in order to maintain air quality and proper humidity levels.
Read MoreThe solution to ventilation in an air tight home is called a Heat Recovery Ventilator, or “HRV”. The HRV system allows the home to maintain high indoor air quality without excessive additional energy costs. It works by recovering some of the heat from the outgoing air to heat the incoming air. The result is a continuous supply of fresh air without losing all of the heat from the stale air being exhausted from the home.
Not all HRVs are created equal. Some are more efficient than others. There are two factors to consider when assessing the efficiency of HRVs:
1. Sensible Recovery Efficiency: This is a measure of how much heat the unit can recovery from the outgoing air. The higher the rating, the lower the demand on your heating system to heat the incoming air.
2. Power consumption: HRVs are designed to, and should run continuously. The power consumption of the unit is therefore an important consideration.
Visit www.hvi.org for information HRVs and ratings on specific models. We recommend only HVI certified HRVs. Investing in a high efficiency HRV can save you money in the long run!!.
Finally, it is important that the HRV be sized correctly for your home and be properly installed and balanced. Deal with a reputable supplier.
Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor can advise you if an HRV is warranted for your home.
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