| OCR Text |
Show Warm Weather Opportunity: Save Money With Insulation Many smart homeowners are installing insulation now because they know that it can save them money year 'round. When it's hot out, insulation helps keep the heat on the outside of a structure. When it's cold out, insulation helps retain the heat on the inside. Here are some facts about insulation and keeping cool from the experts of Owens-Corning Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, Corpora-tion, a leading building materials ma-terials manufacturer: The best place to start insulating is in the attic, the area that's responsible re-sponsible for 33 percent of the home's total heat loss (or gain), according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The walls account for another 33 percent and windowsdoors, 24 percent, the DOE says. Glass fiber batts are generally considered the most reliable in performance perfor-mance and easiest to install. in-stall. For do-it-yourselfers, batts are the best choice. The only tools needed to insulate an attic yourself your-self are a sharp knife, a straight-edge, a ruler, a pair of work gloves and safety glasses. Installation requires measuring the area, cutting the material to fit, if needed, and laying it in place. Check with an insulation insula-tion dealer or local utility about the best R-value (or insulating power) for your home. The R-value is clearly clear-ly marked on packages of glass fiber batts. To determine how much insulation to buy, measure area's length and width and multiply them. Be sure to make necessary repairs, such as fixing leaky roofs and damaged floors, BEFORE installation. Caulking and weather-stripping weather-stripping doors and windows win-dows can help keep you cooler in summer and reduce re-duce electrical demands significantly. Do-it-yourselfers can clean the internal coils on an air conditioner with a damp rag or soft brush. Follow Fol-low with vacuuming. Foam filters should be washed or changed at least once a month. Place air conditioning window units on the north side of the house or in the shade. Try to keep the thermostat ther-mostat set at 78 degrees F. because each degree it is lowered represents a two or three percent increase in cooling costs, says the DOE. On very humid days, set the air conditioning fan at low speed. This provides more moisture removal but less cooling. You'll feel more comfortable at higher temperatures if the air is less humid. |
