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During the colder months of the year, weatherization is an important tool for Maryland residents who want to maintain a reasonable cost of living as well as do their part to improve air quality. When we use energy to heat our homes, most of us are contributing to emissions that come from fossil-fuel combustion. These emissions include carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas associated with climate change, as well as nitrogen oxide, or NOx, a pollutant that is a significant contributor to our state’s ground level ozone.
Despite popular recognition of the benefits provided by energy efficient technology such as solar panels and geothermal heat pumps, for most homeowners the initial investment is a barrier. The good news is that small investments can result in significant savings in homes with all sources of heat. Weatherization can protect indoor air quality and prevent significant amounts of heat from escaping through areas such as windows, doors, ducts, and even attic entrances, meaning that less energy is wasted and less pollution is produced. So, whether you are looking to save money, do your part to protect the planet, or both, weatherization is a step in the right direction.
Most weatherization techniques prevent heat from being lost due to leaks. The number one source of wasted energy in homes, for example, is poorly sealed ductwork that allows heated air to escape and outside air to be drawn in. Sealing leaks with foil-backed tape or silicon caulking can cheaply and easily solve this problem. Leaks that occur in doorways, windows, and attic stair openings should be sealed with caulking and weather-stripping. It is also important to seal any areas where leaks could occur through openings used for pipes and wires. Finally, although fireplaces may appear to be a source of heat, cold air comes into homes through open flues and makes the use of a fireplace less efficient than sealing it off and maintaining use of the primary source of heat.
Simple changes in temperatures settings on certain devices can also provide energy savings. At night or while away from home, thermostats should be set to 58 degrees. During the day, somewhere between 65 and 70 degrees is sufficient, although for infants and the elderly, a 70-degree setting is recommended. Water heaters, which are automatically set at 140 degrees, can actually be lowered to somewhere between 120 and 125 degrees, reducing the amount of fuel used to heat water. To boost the savings associated with water heating, both the pipes and the heater can also be insulated. If pipes are located in a crawlspace or attic, insulation of all hot water pipes is necessary, but otherwise 3-6 feet of insulation will do the trick. For the water heater itself, an insulation blanket is the way to go; if a hot water tank is insulated, the drop in temperature that occurs when it sits unused will happen more slowly and thus cost less to heat up again.
Though higher utility costs may provide a challenge for the typical homeowner, winter temperatures can be less daunting for those who take the time to look into even a few of the techniques described here. Proper weatherization can come at a very small short-term cost, provide savings throughout these chilly winter months, and contribute protection of air quality in your home state.
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