Improving Home Exteriors - An Energy Saving Strategy

It has been proven by scientific research that the greatest amount of heat loss in our homes occurs due to the entrance of cold air into our homes through cracks and holes. Our heating bills can be reduced quite significantly if we solve the issue of heat loss in our homes. This brings us to the question: "how do you find out what needs to be improved in the exterior of your home?" There are many ways you can find out if your exterior needs to be improved. Two of the most effective ways are to either have an expert view your home, or to simply do it yourself.

This article will focus on how to carry out the latter of the two options.

You can start off by taking a walk around the outside of your home, paying attention to the details of its construction. In particular, try to focus on where two different materials meet - for example, where your chimney meets the siding, and when the ground meets your wall structures. You should ensure that all holes and cracks are completely filled, with the appropriate materials; and that the job is done with maximum professionalism to ensure that your solutions will last as long as you expect.

While you are inspecting the exterior of your home, you should also pay attention to your doors and windows, and any wall-mounted air conditioning devices you may have in your home. Doors and windows should seal tightly to prevent heat from escaping your home and, and you could invest in tailored covering for your air conditioner system to ensure that it does not allow heat to escape, and also does not allow cold air inside.

The walls, roofs, and floors (sometimes) contain insulation material. Insulation materials are designed to absorb heat and 'reflect' them back into your home, allowing minimal heat to escape to the outside. Having the right insulation is almost essential if you aim to have an energy efficient home that saves you a lot of money on your energy bills.

Another part of your home's structure that you should pay attention to is your attic. The outer side of your attic is most affected by rain. This is why it is imperative that your attic's insulation is protected by vapor barriers. Not having vapor barriers means that your insulation material (and the structure of your attic) will lose its effectiveness over time, which can severely damage your home's roof overall.

Vapor barriers have quite a few different types, all of which are available for you. You can have fiberglass attached to Kraft paper, Tarpaper, vapor barrier paint or even plastic sheets. It is important to check for any gaps or other ductwork before applying any vapor barriers.

This article shows just a few of the ways you can improve the exterior of your home, to make it more energy efficient. However, having money can be very helpful with improving your home's efficiency also. If you are financially comfortable, I recommend that you invest in energy efficient doors and windows. These are reasonably expensive, but the will save you huge money in the long run.

Making the changes suggested in this article will ensure that your home's exterior is fully efficient and that your home's interior is well insulated; which will surely contribute to possibly the biggest money saving on your energy bills.

Want to learn more about energy efficiency in homes?

Adam Maher is a home energy expert. For more great information on how to improve home exteriors, visit www.esavehomeenergy.com.