Christopher is watching the news, and he doesn’t like what he sees. “When there’s trouble in the Middle East – any kind of trouble, but military conflict certainly qualifies – the price of heating my home goes up. I’ve lived here in the Kingston area for almost twenty years. This isn’t a new phenomenon. What is different is this time, I’m going to take action now to make sure my home is energy efficient. We will be warm next winter!”
There are several ways homeowners can make their property more energy efficient. Efficiency experts talk about the ‘home envelope’. The home envelope is basically your walls, roof, windows and doors – anything that separates your family from the elements. Obviously you want every part of your home envelope to be as robust as possible. The stronger and more well-built these elements are, the more energy efficient your home will be.
Insulation is commonly used to increase the energy efficiency of your walls and roof. There are several different types of insulation, from the familiar fiberglass bats to blown-in cellulose. Your Kingston building contractor can help you select what type of insulation is best for your home.
Another issue to consider is your home’s windows and doors. Energy efficiency experts have found that you can lose up to 40% of the warmed air inside your home through leaky windows and doors. Windows and doors can’t be insulated in the same way walls and roofs are. Instead, the way to boost your Kingston home’s energy efficiency is by having replacement windows installed. Replacement doors are also available, in a variety of styles that include traditional entranceways, sliding glass doors, patio doors, french doors and more.
Because replacement windows are custom fitted to your home, they eliminate the vulnerabilities that exist around your windows. These tiny gaps may be too small to see, but they let a lot of cold air and moisture in! Once those gaps are gone, your home will be warmer and more energy efficient. This means you’re more comfortable and you will save money!