| Whether you need heat in winter or air | | | | value will most likely be present. This is |
| conditioning in summer, you run the risk of | | | | bad. R-11 is the minimum required. Upgrade to |
| throwing away money on utilities. You need | | | | R-20 or R-30 in the walls and R-70 in the |
| not do this by making painless home | | | | ceiling and floor areas. The temperatures in |
| improvements. | | | | the house will become more consistent because |
| | | | the heat transfer will stop. This means the |
| Home Improvements - Get Your Envelope In | | | | house stays warmer for longer in the winter |
| Order | | | | and cooler for longer in the summer. The |
| | | | change will be dramatic. |
| Your house is an enclosed structure designed | | | | |
| to keep rain, cold, heat, wind, snow and so | | | | Windows can be a killer, accounting for as |
| on out. In contrast, all of those things want | | | | much as 25 percent of your energy loss. The |
| in. If you are not careful, Mother Nature | | | | answer is relatively simple. Install Energy |
| will rob you blind. Yes, I am talking about | | | | Star approved windows and get those frames |
| the thermal envelope of your home. | | | | into shape. |
| | | | |
| The thermal envelope refers to the protective | | | | Doors are another area that can kill you. The |
| pocket around your living space. Much like | | | | issue is not so much the door itself, but the |
| wearing gloves in the snow, you want the | | | | framing around it. Make sure your doors are |
| envelope to provide a complete insulation | | | | flush to the frames. Installing small seal |
| barrier between you and the elements. If | | | | pads along the inside of the doorstops can |
| there are gaps or weak areas, your hard | | | | make a major difference because they cut off |
| earned money is flowing out of them. | | | | air flow. Of course, the downside is the door |
| Upgrading or maintaining your envelope can | | | | doesn't make much noise when you slam it in |
| save you a bundle. | | | | anger, but you will just have to tough it |
| | | | out. |
| Insulation can be a killer when it comes to | | | | |
| your envelope. Most developers build homes to | | | | Upgrading your envelope can make a major |
| the minimum requirements because they are | | | | difference in your utility bill. If you can |
| focused on profits. Insulation is noted by R | | | | save $100 a month, you will save $1,200 a |
| values, a method of determining how resistant | | | | year. If you live in the home for 10 years, |
| the insulation is to transferring heat. If | | | | that is an easy $12,000. |
| you check the walls of your house, an R-11 | | | | |