WEATHERIZE
NOW BEFORE HEATING BILLS HIT HOME THIS WINTER
By U.S. Congressman John Peterson
November 5, 2003
Winter is
coming on fast, and with the cold weather is going to come expensive heating
bills. During a normal year, the typical American family spends close
to $1,300 on their home's utility bills. But with natural gas at record
prices because of continued resistance to developing our nation's vast
domestic energy resources, this year promises to be especially brutal
on the checkbooks of American families, not to mention businesses and
industries. It is vital that homeowners take steps now to weatherize their
homes to conserve energy and reduce their heating bills this winter.
Heating and
cooling accounts for 50 to 70 percent of the energy used by the average
American household. No matter what kind of heating, ventilation, or air-conditioning
system you use, you can save money and increase your comfort level by
properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment. But an efficient furnace
alone will not reduce your energy bills as much as having a properly insulated
home.
Inadequate
insulation and air leakage are the leading causes of wasted energy in
most homes. The amount of air which flows into and out of a typical home
is equivalent to leaving a window wide open. Poorly insulated windows
and doors account for enough wasted energy to offset the total energy
supplied each year by the Alaskan pipeline. Checking your home's insulation
is vital for conserving energy and maximizing your dollars.
The first
place you should check for inadequate insulation is in your attic. Insulation
is measured in terms of thermal resistance, called R-values. The higher
the R-value, the more effective the insulation. If there is less than
R-22 in your attic -- equivalent to 7 inches of fiberglass or rock wool
or 6 inches of cellulose -- you could probably benefit by adding more.
Most attics should have between R-22 and R-49 of insulation.
If your attic
has ample insulation and your home still feels drafty and cold, chances
are you need to add insulation to the exterior walls as well. This is
more expensive and usually requires a contractor, but it may be worth
the cost. You should also check the insulation in your ceilings, basement
walls, floors, crawl spaces and chimney flue to see if they meet the recommended
levels for your area. For help determining your home's insulation needs,
visit the Interactive ZIP Code Insulation Program online at www.ornl.gov/~roofs/Zip/ZipHome.html.
One of the
quickest, most cost-effective ways to improve your home's energy efficiency
is to caulk and weatherstrip your doors, windows, seams, cracks, and other
openings to the outside. Another inexpensive way to save energy is to
purchase a water heater blanket. With its heat-reflecting material, a
water heater blanket can save some homeowners 20 percent or more in heating
costs. It may also be beneficial to reduce your water heater temperature,
which is often pre-set at 130 degrees or higher, down to 120 degrees.
Additional tips for weatherizing your home can be found online at http://www.energysavers.gov.
Congress
is currently working to pass a national energy plan that will help to
improve our nation's energy supply and reduce our dependence on foreign
countries for our energy needs. But until we get serious about opening
up America's vast natural gas deposits and increasing domestic energy
production, America’s families, businesses and industries will face
ever-increasing energy costs.
Even natural
gas, a clean fuel which has been championed by environmentalists, is facing
critical shortages because of resistance from the environmental lobby
to even the safest and most environmentally friendly drilling methods.
In addition, Clinton-era regulations shut down much of our nation's coal
production, forcing power companies to turn instead to natural gas as
their primary energy input. The increased use of natural gas by power
companies, combined with political resistance to natural gas production,
has created a gas shortage which is already harming our nation's economy
and will result in higher energy bills for the 60 million American households
who rely on natural gas for their heating needs.
Regardless
of whether the federal government does its job to improve our nation's
domestic energy supply, you can do your part by weatherizing your home
and conserving energy this winter. And the best part is, you can end up
saving more of your hard-earned dollar in the process.
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