Client Reduced Yearly Energy Use Update

A 68.6% decrease in energy use since the Energy Conservation Upgrades- was just shared to me from a past StLouis Homeowner-Client. 

Clearly reflected by the yearly reduced energy needs in the photo of the monthly electric bill! 

Proof positive $1 spent earns $2 in energy savings!

Here are a few of the bigger changes made:

Energy Star Refrigerator your fridge runs 24-7, 365.

Energy Star Dual Pane Windows

Air Sealing Doors, Gaps and Cracks

LED Lighting and fixture upgrades

Zoned Heating System

I'd also like to mention that the household is now actively recycling in their daily affairs!

This clients reduced energy use is something that everyone in StLouis and downwind from Amerens coal plants should also appreciate. 

This reduction in pollution was a deciding factor in the energy conservation measures and underlying reasons for the Energy Star measures taken.

If you want to save money and reduce pollution let me by sending me a message and together We Can Build a Green StLouis. Scotty

Fire Proof-Air Tight-Electrical Junction Box Cover

Air Sealing a Ceiling Electrical Junction Box

OCTOBER 28, 2011 BY GREEN BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Service 

CAD Design-Weatherize-Insulate-Fire Block-Electrical Junction Box

CAD Diagram explains how to Build and Air Tight Electrical Junction Box located in most Attics

Sealing Air Leaks

Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter and can waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside.

You can save on your heating and cooling bill by reducing the air leaks in your home.

Fire Proof /Air Tight Electrical Junction Box Cover used in Attics

Hint: Use Fire Rated: 5/8″Fire Rated Drywall or Sheetrock with Fire Proof Caulking to 

Create the Air Tight Seal

Tips for Sealing Air Leaks

re-posted from:http://www.energysavers.gov/tips/insulation_sealing.cfm

How Does the Air Escape?
Air infiltrates into and out of your home through every hole and crack. About one-third of this air infiltrates through openings in your ceilings, walls, and floors.

• First, test your home for air tightness. On a windy day, carefully hold a lit incense stick or a smoke pen next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weatherstripping.
• Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air.
• Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates through walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.
• Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls.
• Look for dirty spots in your insulation, which often indicate holes where air leaks into and out of your house. You can seal the holes with low-expansion spray foam made for this purpose.
• Look for dirty spots on your ceiling paint and carpet, which may indicate air leaks at interior wall/ceiling joints and wall/floor joists. These joints can be caulked.
• Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with more efficient windows, such as double-pane. See Windows on page 18 for more information.
• When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed. A chimney is designed specifically for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes—24 hours a day!
• For new construction, reduce exterior wall leaks by installing house wrap, taping the joints of exterior sheathing, and comprehensively caulking and sealing the exterior walls.
• Use foam sealant around larger gaps around windows, baseboards, and other places where warm air may be leaking out.
• Kitchen exhaust fan covers can keep air from leaking in when the exhaust fan is not in use. The covers typically attach via magnets for ease of replacement.
• Replacing existing door bottoms and thresholds with ones that have pliable sealing gaskets is a great way to eliminate conditioned air leaking out from underneath the doors.
• Fireplace flues are made from metal, and over time repeated heating and cooling can cause the metal to warp or break, creating a channel for hot or cold air loss. Inflatable chimney balloons are designed to fit beneath your fireplace flue during periods of non-use. They are made from several layers of durable plastic and can be removed easily and reused hundreds of times. Should you forget to remove the balloon before making a fire, the balloon will automatically deflate within seconds of coming into contact with heat.

Sources of Air Leaks in Your Home
Areas that leak air into and out of your home cost you lots of money. Check the areas listed below.

Dropped ceiling Recessed light Attic entrance Sill plates

Water and furnace flues All ducts Door frames Chimney flashing

Window frames Electrical outlets and switches Plumbing and utility access

Scotts Contracting is available to assist you in improving your Home or Business Energy Demands.  Please use this form below to Contact Scotty, Scotts Contracting to schedule a FREE Energy Analysis for your Property.

Poll: How can I help you save money on your Winter Time Heating Bills?

Click Here to take the Poll: How can I help you save money on your Winter Time Heating Bills? you will be redirected to the Sister Site at Word Press

Weatherization doesn't cost it Saves! - 

Rule of Thumb: For Every $1 Spent on Weatherization- You will Save $2-$3 on your Home's Energy Bills

Example: By adding the suggested Inches of Insulation you will save 10-30% amount on the Energy needed to heat your Home = Lower Heating Bills and Greater Comfort Levels for you and your family

Snow on Roof or Lack Snow is a sure sign...

Snow on Roof or Lack Snow is a sure sign...

On the Frosty Mornings when you are outside your house scraping your cars windshield to prepare for your drive to work. Take a look at the Roof of your Home. -Lack of Frost or Snow on your Roof is a sure indication that it was melted by the Heat as it rises from the Interior of your House into the Attic Area-

Snow on Roof or Lack Snow is a sure sign...

• Does the Frost or Snow cover the whole roof?
• Are there places where the snow and frost melt first? (not caused by the Suns Rays)
• Is there Frost and Snow on the Garage Roof but not on the House Roof?
• Does your Neighbors House have Frost and Snow on their Roof- but-Your Roof Doesn't?

Any or All the above may mean that:

1. Lack of Insulation In the Attic
2. Air Infiltration from the Interior of the House into the Attic Area
3. Uninsulated Heating Ducts inside the Attic

Scotts Contracting can Inspect your Attic for Proper:

1. Insulation Levels
2. Adequate Ventilation
3. Uninsulated Heating Ducts
4. Air Infiltration

Email scottscontracting@gmail.com and Scotty will provide a Free Estimate to Fix any of the Above Issues on your Home. I will also provide a Cost Saving Analysis that will provide a ROI on your Investment.

Weatherization doesn't cost it Saves! - Rule of Thumb: For Every $1 Spent on Weatherization- You will Save $2-$3 on your Home's Energy Bills

• Example: By adding the suggested Inches of Insulation you will save 10-30% amount on the Energy needed to heat your Home= Lower Heating Bills and Greater Comfort Levels for you and your family

Additional Green Blog Posts:Energy Star Home Improvement Tips ,Insulation and Thermal Performance ,Which Kind Of Insulation Is Best? ,Radiant Barriersfor your Attic,Insulating Roofs, Walls, and Floors, Roof and Attic Ventilation ,

Email scottscontracting@gmail.com Scotty will provide a Free Estimate to Fix any of the Above Issues on your Home. -- Scott's Contracting scottscontracting@gmail.com http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com

Part 4 in Weatherization Series

If you have the question:

Why is my house so Cold? Why are the walls so cold? Why are the outer rooms of my house so cold? Where are these cold air drafts coming from? Why is it costing me so much to heat my house? Why is my Heating Bill so high? How do I lower my heating bills? What are the recommended ways to lower my heating bills?

I've designed this CAD Diagram to explain how hot and cold temperature seeps into a home with 2x4 walls with 0 (zero) insulation.

You can see by the blue areas how solid materials transfer the temperature.

Standard or Minimum Code Wall Framing consisting of
Siding on Exterior of Building
1/2 in Plywood or OSB Particle Board
2x4 Framing Member Wall Stud
1/2 in Drywall or Sheet Rock

The hot/cold temperature (Blue Areas in Diagram) on the Exterior of the Building is transferred to the Interior of the Building by Conduction The simplest explanation I can use to demonstrate and explain this is too use this example:

"...when you are using a Metal Cooking Utensil to stir a pot of chili. If the utensil is left in the pot of chilli for any length of time. The heat will eventually transfer up the utensil handle and will usually burn your hand or fingers. Heat and Cold enter a Building in the same way; unless, there is some form of Insulation or Thermal Break to prevent the conduction of energy..." from article--> Part 3 How to Build and Remodel to reduce Energy Loss / Gain in Todays Modern Buildings

Now that your understand how Energy is transferred thru building materials I'll explain the various ways that Insulation:

Slows down and Reduces this form of Energy Loss in an upcoming post.

If you have any questions or comments about this article or schedule an appointment use this link to schedule a

Free Proposal on Weatherizing your Building to save money and reduce your Winter-Time Energy Bills

and Scotty, Scotts Contracting will return your Weatherization request asap.

I will save you money, Scotty

CAD Diagram courtesy of Scotty, Scotts Contracting explaining how hot and cold temperature is transferred thru building materials into your home.

Scotts Contracting, Updated Training Certificate-Master Insulation Certificate

Home Repair and Green Building Services-Scotty, Scott's Contracting GREEN BUILDER, St Louis 'Renewable Energy' Missouri- Find Us at: http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/, http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com,
scottscontracting.wordpress.com;
contact  scottscontracting@gmail.com for additional information or to Schedule a 'Green Site Evaluation'--

Scotts Contracting Certainteed Insulation Certificate