Weatherization Works!
On January 31, we held our Weatherization Works webinar. If you missed the webinar, or want to revisit a topic we covered, check out the recording below!
Weatherizing your home is an easy fix that can greatly increase your comfort while decreasing living costs.
The focuses of the webinar included home energy efficiency, available weatherization programs, and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) weatherization tips.
In terms of home energy efficiency, we discussed the fact that a home energy assessment is free for everyone who pays a utility bill in Massachusetts. This is definitely a resource to take advantage of! The HEA is delivered through Mass Save, your municipal power company, or a community action organization, if you are income eligible. The HEA will entail a virtual or in-person visit from an energy specialist. While municipal utilities may offer different things, the Mass Save HEA includes a home inspection, energy report, 0% interest HEAT loan, instant savings measures, appliance rebates, combustion safety testing, low cost insulation, and free air sealing. The instant savings measures may include things like programmable thermostats and faucet aerators.
In regards to available weatherization programs, the best resource is Mass Save. You can call them at 1-866-527-7283 or go to their website. You can also go to the Save Energy at Home page on the Center for EcoTechnology’s website. Keep in mind that the Home Energy Loss Prevention Service (HELPS) applies for those who live in towns with municipal utilities. Community action energy programs also offer weatherization assistance according to income.
Basic building science is important to consider in the context of weatherization. Mainly, the Stack Effect is at play. The Stack Effect entails cold, dense, outdoor air coming into the house via infiltration, while warm, buoyant air leaves through exfiltration, through the roof. The effect increases as the temperature decreases. Understanding the Stack Effect helps us in turn understand why weatherization is important.
In this vein, we then covered Do-It-Yourself tips for weatherizing your home.
Remember: air sealing is the first step in weatherizing any home. The process of air sealing involves identifying spots in the home where air leakage is occurring, and then taking action to prevent the air leakage. After that, you can start insulating your home. Insulation lessens the loss of heat energy through materials.
Specific changes such as installing door sweeps, foam gaskets, and V-seal, while utilizing caulk, spray foam, and foam pipe insulation, can also make a difference.
We hope you found our weatherization webinar informative and helpful. Remember, weatherization is the best defense a home can have against inefficiency!
Weatherization Works Winter 2022 Webinar from Center for EcoTechnology on Vimeo
