Information on home energy
HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR INCENTIVES
NH Utilities and Efficiency Vermont are offering financial incentives for Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR assessments and retrofits including, air sealing,
insulation and improved heating and cooling systems. NH Utilities are offering
up to 75% off costs up to $4,000 for a limited number of qualifying homes, based
on how inefficient your home is. Efficiency
qualifying measures recommended by a certified Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
contractors. For more information on these programs and incentives contact your
electric utility in NH or Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or
www.efficiencyvermont.com/homeperformance where you can find a list of
contractors.
SERG is a certified Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor. We can
perform audits and provide you with a list of certified HPwES contractors to
choose from to do your work. To learn more about SERG HPwES services go to
www.serg-info.org/energy-assessment
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HOW HOMES LOSE HEAT
(Below are segments 2 and 3 from the "How Homes Lose Heat" series SERG wrote for
the Your Voice Magazine. Segments 4-6 will appear in following SERG updates.)
The two primary ways homes lose heat are through:
Conduction - heat moving through a solid walls, roofs and foundation, and
Convection - heat moving through air that leaks out openings in your home.
Of these, convection is the primary source of heat loss in most homes. And the
largest amount of air leakage takes place through holes high and low in the
house. That's because warm air is lighter than cold air, so it rises up and
puts pushes itself out openings high in your home. This creates low pressure in
your basement pulling cold air in openings there. In the next segment, we will
discuss where these typical leaks are and how to find them.
Part 3 - FINDING AIR LEAKS IN YOUR HOME.
Some of the biggest and easiest to seal air leaks in your home are found between
the second floor and attic (around attic hatches, chimneys, plumbing and wiring
penetrations, recessed lights, tops of interior walls) and in your basement (at
the sill-to-foundation juncture, around bulkhead doors and windows, through
plumbing and wiring penetrations or old stone foundations). Finding leaks in
the basement when it is cold and windy outside is easy, because you can feel for
the cold air being pulled in through these openings. You can also see the
breeze blowing cob webs around. If you have a frozen pipe, feel fro the cold
air blowing in on the pipe. To find air leaks pushing out of the house between
the second floor and attic hold a piece of smoking incense near these leaky
areas on a cold, windy day and look for it being pulled out. Next time we will
talk about how to seal these leaks.
INTRODUCTION TO HOMEMADE WINDOW INSULATION - 3/13
10 am - Noon,
In this workshop we will cover the fundamentals of heat loss and discuss several
options for making your own window insulation. These will include window quilts,
interior storm windows, and rigid insulation panels. We'll have samples of each
type, including window quilts in various stages of construction. Bring your
questions and share your own window insulation ideas. Workshop led by Nancy
Limbaugh, Scott Stokoe, and Ann Wickham.
Those who want to practice making an interior storm window or help with caulking
the
around for the afternoon. Presented by the Thetford Energy Committee. Info:
802-785-4126
