|
01 Mar 2008 / 5:51 pm
Part 1: The Building Envelope
Within the home there are five categories of energy consumption and loss; The Building Envelope, Lighting, Home Heating Systems, Hot Water, and Electric Appliances. The trick with keeping your house up to date is, not missing opportunities.
The Envelope Please
Reducing the energy costs associated with operating a home begins with strengthening the building envelope. The Building Envelope includes protecting the interior home from the elements, and providing a healthy interior environment. “If you put capital cost into envelope - it makes the environment more comfortable and reduces the size and operating cost of mechanical systems” says Mario Kani, Sustainable-Edge Engineering. The energy efficiency of the building envelope is closely tied to the number of air changes per hour – or heat loss related to drafts and openings in the house combined with the insulation characteristics of the building.
I am aware of a local neighbour who did a major kitchen and family room renovation last year. Back in February when it was -26 C with a north wind, the pipes in the brand new kitchen froze and burst causing $1000s in damages and repairs. I asked the homeowner why he didn’t insulate; he said ‘the builder told me that I wouldn’t see my $2000 investment come back to me in resale value’. That is not only bad advice but it isn’t true. In addition to providing a more comfortable living space, insulation offers reasonable payback (R40 attic insulation pays back in 6.4 years ), and can be included in a property listing package as a selling feature.
Proper air sealing and roof ventilation is just a caulking gun or phone call away. If you are replacing a roof, recladding your home, replacing windows or removing interior wall surfaces ask your contractor about insulating opportunities. Minor renovation upgrades can significantly reduce the heating and cooling load requirements for your house and can have an impact on resale value, comfort and operational costs.
Chris Chopik is a Toronto based Realtor, Marketing Consultant and cofounder of EvolutionGreen.Com. Chris can be reached at chris@evolutiongreen.com or at 416.993.4870.
|
