Any ideas on how to make houses more energy efficient?

[wildeyed]

Heating bills are going to be sky high this year, so I am finally getting around to doing some of the insulation jobs on my list.

We already added a storm door for an uninsulated older back door to our house. I guess completely replacing the door would be idea, but that would also be expensive. Does anyone know if it would be worth the hassle?



Here is an article from my home town rag.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/home/12904281.htm

Here are some more tips:

• You can go ahead and reverse your ceiling fans, which should blow up toward the ceiling during the winter.

Fans cool people, not spaces, and you don't want the fan blowing directly down on you while you're trying to keep warm this winter. Instead, use the fan to push hot air off the ceiling and down the walls, to keep the room at an even temperature.

• A simple test will tell you whether you need to add insulation or seal cracks.

While you're heating, place a thermometer on the floor for 10 minutes, and then place it at the ceiling for 10 minutes. If the temperature is 10 degrees or more warmer at the ceiling, you might need to seal and insulate. Check the attic insulation, crawl space insulation, and cracks around windows and doors.

• Add the foam insulating pads behind electric switch and receptacle plates.

• Make sure long drapes aren't covering heat registers in the floor or baseboard, or that furniture isn't blocking the warm air. A Charlotte home inspector told me he sees a lot of that.


Sorry about the registration!

[wildeyed]

1. Found this in frugal living......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=353x106

Very helpful!

[politicat]

2. I wrote this one a couple weeks ago.

It's what we do.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=255&topic_id=2125&mesg_id=2126

[wildeyed]

3. Thanks.

Very helpful.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

4. Both Lowes and Home Depot are running How To Clinics on the

matter this month. I plan to attend this weekend, one is Sat. at 1:00pm and the other Sun. at 1:00pm. Chaeck out their web sites theya re listed there.

Actually, got un-lazy

Lowes : Winterize your home Sat. at 1:00pm

Home Depot: Fuel Efficient Home Heating Solutions Sun. at 1:00pm