The envelope, please.

Time and time again I hear that the best way to improve the energy efficiency of your vintage Toronto house is not with the more glamourous installations of solar panels and geo thermal heat pumps, but by simply spending money on sealing the envelope of the building. In order to get your home closer to net-zero energy usage, stopping the uncontrolled exchange of air that occurs through uninsulated walls, ceilings, leaky doors and windows will likely save you more in energy cost per dollar spent than any other improvement. Not to say other technical improvements are a bad idea but the return on investment, if you’re looking for one, starts with the building envelope. After sealing the house, installing a heat recovery ventilator will provide adequate air exchange while allowing you to control the situation. Call a company like Greensaver (http://www.greensaver.org) to setup an energy audit in your home to find the air leaks and determine how much insulation you might need or already have. For further information about HRV’s try the http://www.lifebreath.com website.

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