2nd way to improve your home energy score
2nd way to improve your home energy score
This should be done after step 1 is completed and you have had some time to assess your home's comfort level, and had a few months of utility bills to look at.
If air sealing and attic insulation helped but the house is still uncomfortable, bills are still high, or the energy rating isn’t strong enough for the green-mortgage terms you want, don’t jump to solar or a full remodel.
Which is probably a surprise to a lot of you who know me, and know that I have made my living in solar sales. The idea is to repair and insulate everything you can. Get the low hanging fruit first. Then move on to equipment. After everything is as efficient as possible.
- Diagnose what’s still leaking
Get a blower-door test and energy assessment (HERS or DOE Home Energy Score) if you don’t already have one after the attic work. Attic work only fixes the top of the house. Remaining losses usually come from:
- Duct leaks (very common if ducts run through the attic)
- Rim joists, basement, or crawlspace
- Old windows and doors
- Uninsulated walls or garage-to-house walls
The test tells you the next highest-impact item instead of guessing.
- Seal and insulate the ducts
If you have forced-air heating/cooling, this is often the single best next step. Leaky or uninsulated ducts in an attic can waste a large share of the air you just paid to condition. Seal with mastic (not cloth duct tape), then insulate. This is eligible for many green-mortgage and GoGreen programs and improves comfort quickly.
- Finish the rest of the envelope (in order of access and cost)
- Rim joists and basement/crawlspace air sealing + insulation
- Weatherstripping and better door sweeps
- Storm windows or interior window inserts if full replacement isn’t in the budget
- Wall insulation only where it’s practical (blown-in during other work, or when siding/drywall is already open)
Windows and doors matter more for comfort and green-mortgage documentation than for raw payback. They’re a logical next envelope item if they’re single-pane, drafty, or due for replacement anyway.
After this is done. Wait a couple month’s and see how your utility bill settle’s and how your home feels.
If your looking to see where your official score would be. You can contact these guys BayRen(opens in new tab)
