Energy improvements on an older home: where to begin

             Energy improvements on an older home: where to begin

Before the fuel crisis of the 1970s most Americans never thought twice about their home’s energy consumption. Many lived in older homes that had been retrofitted with electricity, indoor plumbing and forced air heating and cooling, and how efficient these systems were was less important than the fact that were simply there. Efficient and installed were synonymous!

The air conditioner brought an explosion of growth to the southern half of the United States that had once been declared “too hot for civilized people” to live year round. These systems were installed in homes that were not designed for such modern equipment and the results were mixed. Basically as long as the system was blowing cool air the house was cool. These homes were just not good at holding the cool air. So let’s discuss a few ways to bring these homes up to reasonable energy consumption levels. 

Below is my priority list, but it is okay to skip around some if you can’t afford the next measure.

1.     Seal all balloon framed walls and attic penetrations (plumbing, wiring, HVAC).

2.     Seal and insulate attic hatch.

3.     Seal and insulate knee walls in attic area.

4.     Insulate attic to R-30.

5.     Seal and insulate all forced air duct work.

6.     Install vapor barrier in crawlspace.

7.     Seal all plumbing and wiring penetrations in crawl space area.

8.     Caulk and weather strip around doors and windows.

9.     Install bath fans and range hood.

I would consider this list of priorities as a baseline before I purchased any type of energy saving appliances. Of course if the appliances or HVAC system need replacing before you complete the list, do so with Energy Star models. 

I would also consider having a blower door test conducted by a qualified individual before attempting any work. By doing this problem areas can be identified and large amounts of air infiltration/exfiltration can be eliminated. It is a good idea to have the testing done by an impartial person and not a company that wants to sell you the improvements.