Insulation and Siding

A house is a series of systems, and perhaps no other system is more crucial to saving energy than the ‘building envelope,’ or the insulation and siding. The ‘building envelope’ is the outer layer of the building that separates the living space from the outdoor environment, both above and below grade. Many older homes have high heating requirements because of high rates of air leakage and building envelope areas that are not well insulated.

Like any renovation, retrofitting the building envelope requires careful planning. Before you decide to go ahead with the project, it is important to clearly identify the areas you want to improve. Just as important is a thorough inspection of the existing structure by a qualified Energy Advisor so the problems can be identified.

It may be easier to properly insulate a home while it’s being built, but there are still a number of improvements that can be made to upgrade existing homes. With innovations in insulation materials, it is estimated only 20% of homes built before 1980 can be considered well insulated.

• Step one is is finding out what insulation your home currently has using a checklist :

Insulation Checklist

Download a printable insulation checklist.

Insulating Materials and their R-Values

1.3 Climate Zones in Canada

The four climate zones in Canada are based on an average annual temperature indicator called a Heating Degree Day (HDD). A Heating Degree Day is the annual sum of the degrees of the average daily temperature for all days below 18°C.

This accumulated sum is then averaged over a 30-year period to provide a good indication of the average temperature in a certain location. The higher the average HDD value, the colder a location and the longer the heating season is, usually with very cold winter temperatures. Colder locations also require less or no air-conditioning in residential homes and apartments.

The number of zones and their boundaries simply and logically group Canadian cities and regions together to ensure that the colder areas of Canada require the more energy efficient windows and sliding glass doors. Zone A is the mildest region in Canada and Zone D is the coldest region.

It is recommended that a product be purchased that is at least one zone colder than what is indicated on the zone map. This would apply especially to areas in southern and central British Columbia where the energy efficiency levels have been determined for major urban centres that are normally located in valleys.

Cost Savings

• Homeowners can potentially save up to 30% on heating bills by insulating the floor of an attic.
• The average household spends about $1,300 each year on home energy. The energy use of two families living in two homes - that are EXACTLY alike - can vary by 100%. That means how homeowners use what’s in their homes can double (or halve) energy bills.
• It is estimated that North American residential ductwork leakage costs consumers $5 billion each year, wasting the equivalent of the annual energy consumption of 13 million cars.
• Homeowners can save up to 20% of home heating and cooling costs by sealing up holes to the outside by weather stripping doors and sealing windows and other gaps along the home’s foundation. A combination of air sealing and adding insulation to attics, basements, and crawlspaces provides tremendous energy savings and increased comfort.