This Old House
Buying a home is simply daunting. Affordability, neighborhoods, financing, school districts, conditions and value to mention a few important considerations. This is all compressed into a timelines of deadlines. So conditions like energy efficiency is oblivious. Homes that lack energy efficiency has consequences in comfort, cost, health & safety.
Poor energy efficiency can lead to finding capital costs to resolve comfort issues or unexpected high utility bills when the seasons change. This can disrupt your monthly expenses with unexpected high energy bills when season change. These issues further compound your pocket book. HVAC contractors will have to oversize your system resulting in higher capital costs and monthly utility expenses. Not to mention shortening the life of your heating/cooling equipment.
Let's look at conditions that may exist in older homes.
Poor energy efficiency can lead to finding capital costs to resolve comfort issues or unexpected high utility bills when the seasons change. This can disrupt your monthly expenses with unexpected high energy bills when season change. These issues further compound your pocket book. HVAC contractors will have to oversize your system resulting in higher capital costs and monthly utility expenses. Not to mention shortening the life of your heating/cooling equipment.
Let's look at conditions that may exist in older homes.
Older Homes
Let's look at conditions that may exist in older homes.
Building Envelope - Meaning the exterior shell of a home including siding, roof, foundation, insulation, doors & windows. This exterior shell may lack insulation and air-tightness. This will result in comfort issues. Not properly identifying the cause of comfort can lead to costly mistakes.
Single-pane windows - Windows are poor insulators. In hotter climates, windows facing South or West will absorb and transfer radiant sun heat creating moderate comfort conditions.
Air leakage/Drafty - When it comes to air infiltration, older homes are a sieve. The lack of air-tightness transfers outside temperatures inside. Comfort is compromised. But it gets worse. Outdoor pollutants are now inside. Homeowners with plant allergies may be exposed.
Central Heating - Older homes may still have the first generation of heating systems. Air conditioners can be added to provide cooling comfort for warmer climates. These systems are big culprits when it comes to EE. This is compounded by lack of design and poor installation result in poor efficiency over 30% and worse.
Building Envelope - Meaning the exterior shell of a home including siding, roof, foundation, insulation, doors & windows. This exterior shell may lack insulation and air-tightness. This will result in comfort issues. Not properly identifying the cause of comfort can lead to costly mistakes.
Single-pane windows - Windows are poor insulators. In hotter climates, windows facing South or West will absorb and transfer radiant sun heat creating moderate comfort conditions.
Air leakage/Drafty - When it comes to air infiltration, older homes are a sieve. The lack of air-tightness transfers outside temperatures inside. Comfort is compromised. But it gets worse. Outdoor pollutants are now inside. Homeowners with plant allergies may be exposed.
Central Heating - Older homes may still have the first generation of heating systems. Air conditioners can be added to provide cooling comfort for warmer climates. These systems are big culprits when it comes to EE. This is compounded by lack of design and poor installation result in poor efficiency over 30% and worse.