Save Energy: Plug that gap!
Save Energy: Plug that gap!
This is one of the simplest actions you can take. It is also one of the cheapest options when it comes to making your home more energy efficient. To get the ball rolling….
I came across this great little ‘how to ‘ video for those of you who are willing to consider another great way to handle windows that let your precious energy intensive warmed or cooled air pass out of the room.
Windows and doors are the most common sources of draught in your home – these can be cold air or hot air depending on the season. If your windows have curtains or blinds draw them fully of an evening in the winter as this helps to trap the warm air inside your room, rather than letting it escape through the glass. Glass does not have a good thermal rating, especially if it is a single pane. Likewise, in Summer draw your blinds or curtains during the day – especially if the get direct sunlight on them – to stop the glare and slow down the heating up of your home. This will save you lots of energy and money in reducing the time you need to run your air-conditioning.
- Double and triple glazing of windows is expensive in the short term but as energy costs continue to rise, over time, they will save you on your heating and cooling expenses for years and years to come. This is one time when the long term perspective pays off even in the short term.
You can purchase weather stripping tape from your local hardware supplier very inexpensively. This can be used to exclude air transfer around door and windows and can dramatically improve the efficiency of your home. It is cheap, very easy to apply and if you need to see how it is done just look for a “how to” video from YouTube… you will be spoiled for choice!
- Under the door itself is another source of air transfer between the room you are heating or cooling and whatever is on the other side. There are a number of ways to block this source of draught but even a towel rolled up and placed before the gap will make a difference. Do you remember the “door snake or door sausage” that your Grandparents used to keep the rooms cosy? They still work today and they can be covered to look very chic indeed. If this is not your cup of tea then check out your local hardware outlet for other more modern options.
Here are a few other things you can do the ensure you are getting the best value from your heating or cooling dollar and that will go a long way to ensuring that you are not an energy hog this season.
- Check around your windows for damage or gaps that are allowing your precious warmed or cooled air to escape.
- Look around the join of your floor and walls, especially if you enjoy a timber floor or even tiles. This is another place that draughts can appear. In many older homes this is an area where many gaps appear over time.
- Put down a rug for the winter to add a layer of cosiness. It can give you that lovely layered look for winter and then as the weather warms up it’s like your room gets a new lease on life as you roll up the rug and celebrate the return of the growing seasons.
- Look for other gaps too. A Common place to look is where your pipes enter and leave your home is another way for air to flow. There are now expanding foam spray products available that are easy to use and make sealing up these gaps quick and easy.
I hope you find this post inspirational and it gets you heading out to Plug Those Gaps! If you would love more inspirational tips, ideas, innovations and just good old information subscribe to the newsletter by putting your details into the form to the top right of the page.
