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Greening Up your Attic
January 9, 2015

When you think of "greening up" your home, typically you think of the areas within your home that you see on a regular basis, such as the kitchen, bedroom or bathroom. One of
the easiest and cost efficient rooms to "green up" is your attic. By adding a few simple touches to your attic, you can save money on your energy bills and improve your homes
environmental performance.

The first thing to consider would be insulation and sealing. If your attic is unfinished check the insulation and sealing around the attic access. The gap in the access to your attic,
if not insulated, can increase the heat loss or heat gain, depending on the season. Something as simple as a 1/4" gap around the perimeter of the access can leak the same amount
of air that is supplied by a typical bedroom heating/cooling duct. This can cost 100's of dollars in energy costs. Adding things such as weatherstripping and a latch bolt can make a
significant difference.

When insulating the attic space, be sure to find out the proper R-value that is appropriate for the climate in your area. There are many types of insulation that you can use, which
one you choose depends on your home design, budget and climate. One option to look into is called a Radiant Barrier. A Radiant Barrier is placed on the attic floor and when the
solar energy is absorbed by the roof and radiated toward the floor, the radiant barrier reflects much of the heat back towards the roof. This in turn reduces the amount of heat
that moves through the insulation and into the rooms below the ceiling. This is an effective way to reduce your energy bill in both the hot months as well as the cooler months.

Another effective way of reducing your energy costs is by investing in a whole house fan. These fans are typically installed in the attic, by a professional. Whole house fans pull
the cool air through the home and exhaust the warm air out of the home. They are most effective at night when the air outside is cooler than the air inside. They can be tricky
though, if you use them when the air outside is warmer than the air inside you will waste energy and defeat the purpose.

These few changes can make a world of difference on your electric bill and, well, on the world itself.

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