Building Department

Cold weather is here, heating systems are running, and it’s time to think about energy use within the buildings we live and work in. Buildings consume about 40% of the energy our nation uses so making buildings as efficient as possible is important for our planet and our pocket books.  Americans currently spend over $200 billion a year on their energy bills (ICC survey).   Here are some suggestions for reducing energy use in the built environment.

1. Hire a professional energy rater to conduct a blower door test.  This test will indicate how many air changes per hour your building will allow and show exactly where the heat (energy) loss is occurring.   This will allow you to “seal the holes” and reduce heat loss.
2. Inspect heat supply runs and hot water lines.  If either one runs through un-conditioned spaces such as attics, crawl spaces or within an exterior wall cavity they should be insulated to prevent heat loss.
3. Inspect doors and windows for cold air inundation. There are many products available at your local hardware or lumber yards designed to improve energy efficiency.
4. Inspect attic area for depth and coverage of ceiling insulation.  There should be at least an R30 and coverage to the outside walls and through the attic access.

The Building Department has many resources and suggestions for improving energy efficiency of your building, please give us a call at 517-668-0278.