It’s not too late to prepare your home for this winter’s cooler temperatures and reduce your natural gas and electricity usage. Natural gas consumption in buildings contributes 27% of Alameda’s greenhouse gas emissions. Weatherizing your home will not only protect the climate, but will also reduce your energy bills. So where should one start?
If you haven’t already insulated your attic, do it now. It’s the most effective thing you can do to reduce your heating bills. Note that insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow is rated in terms of its thermal resistance or R-value. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. Insulation with at least an R-30 rating is recommended for attics in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Next, consider getting a smart thermostat. What makes a thermostat smart? For one thing, they are programmable and can create a heating schedule—one temperature during the day, and a lower temperature at night. Some smart thermostats can sense if anyone is at home, and if not, can lower the temperature. App alert options can remind you when it’s time to change heating filters. Energy reports can tell you how much energy you use and how to cut back. Alameda Municipal Power offers rebates on smart thermostats. Visit the AMP Rebates and Incentives web page for details.
How long has it been since you installed weatherstripping around external doors and older windows? Weatherstripping closes gaps that let in cold air and allow heat to escape, but it can deteriorate over time. Check it out and install new stripping as needed. It’s a low-cost weatherization technique.
Caulking also is cheap and effective. Caulk around window panes with leaks, and seal any gaps around areas where plumbing, electrical wiring, or ducting enters through walls. For larger gaps use foam sealant. Use caution when sealing leaks around fireplace chimneys, furnaces, and water heater vents, as these call for fire-resistant materials such as sheetrock, sheet metal, and furnace cement caulk.
Other heat-saving measures include using heavy curtains or shades on windows to retain heat, closing the fireplace damper when not in use, changing furnace filters regularly, installing foam gaskets behind electrical outlets, and simply putting on a sweater and slippers to keep yourself warmer so you can lower the heat a bit and still be comfortable.
Let’s all lower our heating power consumption this season, protect the climate, and reduce our energy bills.
Joyce Mercado is a member of Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA). She can be reached at [email protected].
