Table Of ContentQUICK
GUIDE
Home
Energy
Savings
A Homeowner’s Guide
CONTENTS
WHAT YOU’LL NEED ............................................................. 22
USING ENERGY WISELY ....................................................... 23
WEATHERSTRIPPING WINDOWS .......................................... 24
WEATHERSTRIPPING DOORS ............................................... 10
SEALING GAPS AND LEAKS ................................................ 15
INSULATING RECEPTACLE AND SWITCH BOXES ................. 16
SEALING AROUND PIPES AND DUCTS ................................. 17
REGLAZING A WINDOW ...................................................... 18
ADDING ATTIC INSULATION ................................................ 19
INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT ........................ 28
TURN DOWN THE WATER HEATER ....................................... 29
TAME YOUR APPLIANCES .................................................... 30
CHOOSING ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHT BULBS ...................... 31
INSTALLING AN OCCUPANCY SENSOR ................................ 32
ENERGY SAVINGS CHECKLIST ............................................. 33
Text © 2015 The Taunton Press, Inc. Text: David Toht
Photos © 2015 The Taunton Press, Inc. Photographs: David Toht, Ben Toht,
Illustrations © The Taunton Press, Inc. Rebecca Anderson
All rights reserved. Illustrations: Mario Ferro
Pp
Series Executive Editor: Peter Chapman
Design and Layout: Stacy Wakefield Forte
Copy Editor: Diane Sinitsky
The Taunton Press, Inc., 63 South Main Street
PO Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
e-mail: [email protected]
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Toht, David.
Stanley home energy savings / David Toht.
pages cm
ISBN 978-1-63186-003-4
ISBN 978-1-63186-204-5 (e-Book)
1. Dwellings--Energy conservation--Amateurs’ manuals. 2.
Dwellings--Maintenance and repair--Amateurs’ manuals. I. Stanley Black &
Decker Inc. II. Title. III. Title: Home energy savings.
TJ163.5.D86T64 2015
696--dc23
2014029853
Printed in China 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
ABOUT YOUR SAFETY: Construction is inherently dangerous. Using hand or power tools improperly
or ignoring safety practices can lead to permanent injury or even death. For safety, use caution, care
and good judgment when following the procedure described in this book. The publisher and Stanley
cannot assume responsibility for any damage to property or injury to persons as a result of misuse of
the information provided. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions included with products. Don’t
try to perform operations you learn about here (or elsewhere) unless you’re certain they are safe for
you. The projects in this book vary as to level of skill required, so some may not be appropriate for all
do-it-yourselfers. If something about an operation doesn’t feel right, don’t do it, and instead, seek
professional help. Remember to consult your local building department for information in building
codes, permits and other laws which may apply to your project.
STANLEY® and the STANLEY logo are trademarks of Stanley Black
& Decker, Inc. or an affiliate thereof and are used under license.
EVALUATING
YOUR HOME
■
No one would leave a window open all winter. But tote up all your
home’s leaks and areas lacking insulation, and you may find you’ve
as good as done so. With a typical household spending 46% of its energy
budget on heating and cooling (see the chart on p. 3), those little prob-
lems can add up to a big expense.
Fortunately, most energy-saving improvements are easy to do. A miss-
ing door sweep, a clogged furnace filter, and dusty refrigerator coils can
be dealt with quickly. Even bringing your attic insulation up to par can be
done in a weekend. Tackling these simple chores can lower your energy
bills by 5% to 30%, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). With
annual household energy costs averaging $2,200 a year, that can save you
a lot of money.
So grab a flashlight and a tape measure and use the Energy Savings
Checklist at the back of this booklet to evaluate your house.
TISSUE PAPER TEST. To check for
leaky spots, do the tissue paper
test. Hold a long strip of bath-
room tissue along the edge of
window sashes or doors. Watch
for movement.
QUICK Spiders build webs where
TIP
insects get into the house,
a sign that a nearby window may
be gappy.
HOME ENERGY SAVINGS ■ 1
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Shown here are the basic DIY tools for common home energy projects.
Additional tools and materials are listed with each individual project.
Tin snips
Tape
Utility knife
measure
Square
Miter box
Light-duty staple gun
Hammer
Nail sets
T-bevel
Self- Heavy-duty Electric stapler/
centering staple gun brad nailer
nail set
Spring
clamps
Reversible
fl ush-cut saw
Hacksaw
Mini
hacksaw
Double-edge Folding sawhorse
pull saw
USING ENERGY WISELY
It’s no secret that the largest proportion of home energy goes toward
heating and cooling. But a glance at the chart below shows that things
like water heating, appliances, and lighting also stack up as high priorities.
Changing habits and making a few easy upgrades will help you use ener-
gy wisely—and spare the household budget.
HOUSEHOLD PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL PORTION OF $2,200 TYPICAL
ENERGY USE* HOUSEHOLD ENERGY USE HOME ENERGY EXPENDITURE
Heating 29% $638
Cooling 17% $374
Water heating 14% $308
Appliances 13% $286
(refrigerator,
dishwasher, washer,
and dryer)
Lighting 12% $264
Electronics 4% $88
(computer, monitor,
TV, DVD player)
Other 11% $242
(stoves, ovens,
small appliances,
telephones, built-in
fans)
*Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2009
HOME ENERGY SAVINGS ■ 3
WEATHERSTRIP WINDOWS
Windows have a tough job. They have to seal out winter gusts, yet open
easily when spring breezes arrive. Any place where a sash slides or a
casement opens is prone to infiltration. And, of course, if your window
has rattling panes or missing glazing, it is bound to leak. For the quickest
results when adding weatherstripping, start with your worst cases on the
windward side of your house.
WHERE WINDOWS LEAK
From behind
the top trim
From behind
the side trim
Between the
upper and
lower sash
Between the
sash and sill
From behind
the sill trim
Rope Caulk, Simple and Seasonal
■ It ain’t pretty, but rope caulk goes on quickly to effectively
seal out drafts. The downside is you’ll have to remove it in
the spring to open windows and reapply it in the fall when you
button things up.
INSTALLING PLASTIC V-STRIP WEATHERSTRIPPING
V-strip weatherstripping installs quickly. Its springiness fills the gap between
the sash and the jamb, providing an effective weather seal. It’s not the
prettiest or longest-lasting stuff in the world, but it’s a great solution for
out-of-the-way windows like basement awning windows (shown). Before
installing, open the window and thoroughly clean the jamb.
What You’ll Need: Self-adhesive V-strip; rag and cleaner; scissors
1. CUT A STRIP. Instead of measur- 2. FOLD THE STRIP. With the adhe-
ing, hold the strip where you want sive tape outward, run the V-strip
to apply it and mark. Cut and test between your thumb and forefin-
the fit. ger so it folds on itself.
2
3
3. ADHERE THE STRIP TO THE JAMB.
With the opening of the V facing
outdoors, stick the strip to the
jamb, removing the paper backing
1
as you go.
HOME ENERGY SAVINGS ■ 5
INSTALLING SPRING BRONZE WEATHERSTRIPPING
Bronze weatherstripping is a tried-and-true solution that will last the life
of window. It works best for small, consistent gaps. Be careful not to
crimp the strip as you work, and watch for sharp edges as you cut.
What You’ll Need: Spring bronze weatherstripping and brads (they are usu-
ally sold together); tape measure; tin snips; hammer; nail set; utility knife
1. MARK THE TOP OF THE SASH. 2. ROUGH-CUT THE SPRING
Shut the window and make a BRONZE. Raise the window sash.
mark at the top edge of the sash. Use a tin snips to cut one end of
the strip to match the sill angle.
1
2
3
3. SLIP THE STRIP IN PLACE.
Square-cut the strip about 2 in.
longer than the height of the sash.
Slip it between the open sash and
the jamb.
4. PREDRILL FOR THE BRADS. 5. FASTEN THE TOP OF THE STRIP.
Tape the strip to hold it in place. Close the sash and secure the top
Beginning at the sill, drill 1⁄16-in. of the strip with two brads.
pilot holes for the brads—they’re
hard to start otherwise. Work your
way up, keeping the strip taut.
5
4 6
6. ATTACH SPRING BRONZE TO
QUICK To increase the spring
TIP THE SASH BOTTOM. Cut a piece
in the strip, run the tip
of a putty knife along the bend of spring bronze to size, and
nearest the nails. Repeat until tape it to the underside of the
the bronze makes firm contact
sash. Orient it so it springs open
with the sash.
outward, and nail it in place.
HOME ENERGY SAVINGS ■ 7
ADDING SELF-STICK FOAM
Ideal for casement or awning windows or anywhere you find large,
uneven gaps, self-stick foam is inexpensive and installs quickly. It
won’t last more than a few seasons but is well worth the trouble of
occasional replacement.
What You’ll Need: Self-stick foam; rag and cleaner; scissors
1
1. PEEL OFF THE BACKING AND
APPLY. Cut a strip of self-stick 2
foam slightly longer than you
need. Peel and adhere one end, 2. TRIM THE FOAM. Before peeling
then work your way along, peel- and sticking the last bit, trim it
ing and sticking as you go. with scissors to the length needed.
