by Joseph R. Provey | Feb 12, 2014 | Energy-Savings Tips, Heating & Cooling
Electric resistance heating is the most costly way to heat your home. In fact, it’s more than twice the cost natural gas per BTU. So it may seem counterintuitive to hear that using electric space heaters can lower your heating costs. Placing a heater in the rooms...
by Joseph R. Provey | Jan 21, 2014 | ABC Action Plan, Attics, Building Envelope, Featured Posts
It’s pretty easy to understand why ice dams form. Heated air leaks into the attic, and causes roof snow to melt. Water runs down the roof (or roof valley) until it reaches a cold stretch (typically over an eave) and where it freezes. A ridge of ice builds up and forms...
by Joseph R. Provey | Dec 30, 2013 | Basements
High humidity on a hot summer day makes us feel warmer than what the thermometer reads. In fact, when the temperature reaches 90° F. and the relative humidity (RH) is 80%, it feels like 117 degrees F! This happens because high humidity slows evaporation from the skin...
by Joseph R. Provey | Dec 23, 2013 | Heating & Cooling
If your home is heated and cooled with air, take a few minutes to inspect the ductwork that distributes it throughout your home. You can typically find it in the basement, attic, or in a utility closet on the main level. Turn on the furnace or air conditioner to...
by Joseph R. Provey | Dec 16, 2013 | ABC Action Plan, Attics, Building Envelope, Conditioned Spaces, Heating & Cooling, Home Systems
A great case can be made for upgrading your home’s insulation and for air-sealing gaps and cracks sooner rather than later. These improvements typically pay for themselves in 6 or 7 years — and then continue to generate savings for as long as you live in your...
