We cut heating costs in Vermont homes every day!
Building Energy puts a stop to drafts from chilling you in the winter and will get you incentives from Efficiency Vermont for doing it! Air sealing and insulating the “thermal envelope” (outer walls, windows, doors, attics, basements and crawl spaces) is the most cost-effective way to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of your home.
ENERGY STAR estimates up to 20% can be saved on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% on annual energy bills) when you have a professional contractor air seal and insulate your home.
The first step in making your home more comfortable and reducing your building’s carbon footprint is determining where the leaks are!
How we do it:
Many times homeowners are aware of drafts that they can easily feel around windows and doors. But often bigger air leaks are hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces causing even greater losses of heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. Sealing leaks with caulk, spray foam, and/or weather stripping will not only improve the comfort of your home, but will also reduce your utility bills. We can help you stop letting money literally fly out your windows and walls!
When talking about air sealing and insulating, many homeowners express a concern about their home becoming “too tight”. In the majority of older homes, this is very unlikely but we understand a certain amount of fresh air is needed for good indoor air quality and we follow recommended specifications. Diagnostic tools to measure your home’s actual air leakage can be used to determine whether or not there is proper air flow. Ventilation recommendations are included when we propose air sealing and insulation measures to maintain proper air flow.
Most structures have air leaks that allow heat out and cold air to flow in. To fix these leaks, we pressurize a structure using a blower door. We are then able to use smoke sticks or a fogging device to identify and seal the leaks. This is a particularly critical step in structures insulated with fiberglass.