Increasing Home Efficiency While Maintaining Air quality
Recently, I was asked about environmentally friendly insulating products for homes and if there was an insulating product that I could recommend. Unfortunately the answer is both 'yes' and 'no'.
These days we are still almost exclusively using fiberglass (batts or blown), foam, and rigid code board insulation in our construction and weatherization projects.
There are some 'greener' products on the market that are made of recycled clothing and newspapers, but to the best of my knowledge, these are not accessible yet here in small town Maine.
In any case, insulating, and caulking, are critical first steps to reducing ones energy requirements. These common sealing practices , referred to as Level 1 weatherization, include simplel steps like insulating rim joists (the space between the sub floor and the concrete wall in your basement), insulating between the trim around windows and doors, and increasing the amount of insulation in the ceiling/attic of your home. Actions like these help to better retain the heat that a home heating system is creating.
While these are seen as low-hanging fruit in the weatherization world, there is one item to be aware of before undertaking a project in your home: air quality. New homes today are constructed with a means of ventilation, at least bath fans and often whole house ventilation systems, also known as Heat Recovery and Ventilation, that help mitigate moisture and maintain the air quality in a home with a 'tight' energy envelope. Simply as a result of their build age, older homes that are being retrofitted may not have a mechanical means of ventilation. While it is unlikely that Level 1 weatherization efforts would generate an issue with air quality, it is certainly something to consider and be aware of.
If you have any questions regarding home weatherization or air quality, please don't hesitiate to give us a call and we'll walk you through what you need to know.
