Buzzword: Weatherization

What it means. Weatherization is the practice of making a building more energy efficient by sealing its exterior against wind and precipitation and protecting its interior from heat and cold. Buttoning up the envelope of a house with insulation and caulk is the first line of defense. But best weatherization practices treat a building as a single energy-consuming system and might include such whole-house measures as replacing old heating, cooling, and water-heating devices with higher-efficiency models.

Why the buzz? In the presidential debate between candidates John McCain and Barack Obama on October 7, 2008, moderator Tom Brokaw asked the candidates what sacrifices Americans will have to make to get the country's economy back on track. One of Senator Obama's points covered energy use: "Each and every one of us can start thinking about how can we save energy in our homes, in our buildings," he said. "One of the things I want to do is make sure that . . . you are able to weatherize your home or make your business more fuel efficient." (Read the full debate transcript.)

This is not the first time a president or a candidate for that office trumpeted energy efficiency. President Jimmy Carter famously wore a beige cardigan during a 1977 fireside chat in which he talked to the American public about the country's energy crisis. Carter's wardrobe choice is remembered more than his message, made explicit in his 1979 Crisis of Confidence speech, in which he warned: "The energy crisis is real. It is worldwide. It is a clear and present danger to our nation."

In today's world, weatherization should remain relevant beyond Election Day. With that, we've pulled together steps you can take to weatherize your home, helping you to save yourself money and reduce your energy use. If your more motivated by money than by patriotism, note that on average, weatherization reduces heating bills by 32 percent and overall energy bills by $358 per year at current prices, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Plug the big leaks first. Start in the basement and attic and seal any gaps around your plumbing pipes, ductwork, light fixtures, and electric wiring that allow air to flow out of your house. Also seal around your chimney and flue pipes, being sure to use products suitable for high temperatures. Lay insulation between attic-floor joists and on the hatch or door, or add more if it's already there. Also look for dirty insulation, a sign of air movement that reveals other gaps you must fill. Insulate ducts running through the attic, basement, or other unheated spaces.

Stop air infiltration. Insulate the ceilings in an unheated basement or crawl space or around the exterior walls if they are heated. Also be sure to insulate ducts and hot-water pipes.

Program thermostats for savings. Lower your heating-system thermostat 5° F at night and 10° F during the day if no one is home, a move that will shave up to 20 percent off your heating costs. Many electronic setback thermostats let you set a different schedule for each day. Many automatically switch from heating to cooling, and some tell you when it's time to change your furnace or air-conditioner filters. (Read more about air purifiers.)

Make ventilation a priority. Sealing leaks isn't about eliminating ventilation—it's about bringing air in where and when you need it. Adequate venting helps control moisture and avoid indoor air-quality problems (never block attic vents with insulation, for example). Once you've made your home more energy-efficient, have a heating and cooling technician check your gas- or oil-fired furnace, boiler, water heater, and dryer for proper venting. Be sure to follow our advice for carbon-monoxide and smoke alarms.

Upgrade an old furnace. Heating can account for almost half of all home energy costs. So when your existing furnace is irreparable or in need of major repairs, replace it with the right size by having an experienced pro do a heating-load calculation. Our survey of 10 furnace brands found that they're all equally reliable. So look at annual fuel-utilization efficiency (AFUE), which ranges from 78 to 95 on new units. A gas furnace with a 78 AFUE will cost roughly $140 more to run per year than one with a 90. However, high-efficiency furnaces are much more expensive and require special vent systems which can add to their installation cost.

Also, if you're in the market for a new furnace because you think it will save you money, consider this: Furnaces built in the last 10 to 15 years have a minimum AFUE of around 80 percent. So unless your furnace is very old, a high-efficiency replacement furnace is at best able to save you only around 10 percent on your heating bills. By contrast, sealing and insulating a duct distribution system can cut your heating bill by up to 40 percent and, if done properly, will provide those savings for the life of the home.

Replace old windows. Replacement windows can save you 10 to 25 percent per year on heating and cooling if you have single-paned windows. But if you already have storm windows or insulated glazing, replacing the window will not bring any significant savings. In these cases, check and replace worn weather stripping. New windows can cost $7,000 to $20,000, installed, on an average house (custom sizes can add about 15 percent), so new windows probably won't save enough energy for you to realize net savings for 20 years or more. But they can make your home more comfortable, quiet, and attractive.

Light fires sparingly. A conventional wood-burning fireplace sucks more heat out of your home than it puts back in. Installing (and closing) glass doors on the hearth can help to reduce the airflow up the chimney. Many factory-built fireplace boxes have a combustion air-inlet assembly. If your fireplace doesn't have this feature, open a nearby window to minimize the loss of heated air from the rest of the home. Learn more about pellet- and wood-burning stoves.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: For additional energy-saving advice, including information on where to find an energy auditor, read our 25 simple ways to save from the October 2008 issue of Consumer Reports.

Comments

[lee h.]

need to find a good direct vent gas fireplace. Vermont castings was reccommended...but going out of business. Any suggestions?