By Adam Dachis, Lifehacker – March 27, 2013 at 04:00PM
We’ve looked at several ways to save on your energy bill, but among them all nothing does the job better than air sealing. Utility bill comparison site MyEnergy explains:
The EPA estimates that between 25 and 30 percent of the energy that we use to heat and cool our homes is lost due to the air leaks through the attic, the basement, and other gaps in the building envelope. The absolute largest return on investment when it comes to energy savings is quick air sealing using caulk or spray foam. Spray foam or foam-in-a-can has been proven to save up to $150 per year in heating/cooling costs, and to have a seven year ROI (return on investment) of 4400%. The living space is the easiest to airseal yourself, however attics and basements can sometimes require a contractor depending on the scope on the project.
If you want to seal the gaps in your home, this EnergyStar guide is a good place to start. GreenVideoAdvisor offers a series on sealing your attic and Building Science provides another.
Special thanks to MyEnergy for the tips!
Photo by digitalreflections (Shutterstock).