Attics
For most of us, our attics are places we rarely think about. We might store seasonal items up there or never go in there at all. A few of us might have attics or 3rd floors that are part of our daily living space. Regardless, this is the number 1 target to start improving the energy efficiency of your home. A quick search on the Department of Energy, Energy-Star, or any credible building science website will confirm this.
This first image is a before shot taken during one of our Energy Audits. Much energy had been wasted in the form of heat loss through convection (air leaks), conduction, and radiation (think “hot attic in summer” and “why is my second floor hard to cool?”)
While the duct work associated with this heater/AC looks well insulated, the connections were not sealed and there were sharp bends in the flex ducts restricting airflow.
This Attic needed Air-sealing and Insulating! In addition, we built a R-50 (highly insulated) platform on which to store seasonal items and a super insulated hatch. We also sealed all the ducts and optimized their length and routing.
Now they have a clean, well lit area to store items, a sealed and insulated attic which will keep them warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, a more effective heating and cooling system, AND lower utility bills.
