house has to be replaced by a cubic foot of cold air leaking in at lower levels.


It’s very simple to liſt up atic insulation, seal these cracks with caulk or foam and put the insulation right back. A crew can usually seal a house in less than a day. Te results are immediate: less air leaks out the top and below (noticeably reducing draſts) and hu- midity levels stay higher and more comfortable. Hard-to-reach leaks must be handled differently and planned for carefully. For example, say you’re not in love with that old, paint-caked wood paneling in the living room, but aren’t sure whether to replace it. Te energy audit may reveal that it is very leaky, with litle insulation in the walls behind it. Renovating the walls can turn an uncomfortable room (which costs a lot to heat and cool) into a comfortable and efficient space that’s more enjoyable for the family.


Insulation check: Most Washington, D.C.-area homes can be more comfortable by simply adding insulation. It’s a cost-effective, energy saving solution,


even more so if done while insulating crews are on site for other renovation or addition work.


“Ongoing energy use is probably the single greatest environmental impact of a building,” according to Environmental Building News. A home energy audit completed by a qualified professional, followed by air sealing, insulation and other improvements, is the single best step to reducing energy use in an existing house. Happily, these same steps are cost effective, pay huge dividends in comfort and safety and can optimize planning for a renovation or addition. An energy audit is clearly an important step for almost any remodeling project, but especially for those in- terested in saving some green on future energy bills while going green in their home.


Doug Horgan is Vice President of Best Practices at BOWA (www.bowa.com) and


a LEED Accredited Professional


with Homes Specialty and NARI Green Certified Professional with certifications from the Building Performance Institute. Doug can be reached at doug@ bowa.com or (703) 734-9050.


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