Americans are facing dueling challenges. Record-breaking weather is sweeping across the country and energy prices are increasing. Homeowners are trying to find new options to beat the heat without breaking the bank. Running the air conditioner in a high energy cost environment has a big impact on energy bills. Homeowners nationwide may be tempted to purchase new energy efficient appliances without giving any thought to their homes’ insulation and potential air leaks, a big mistake according to an official with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Homeowners will see lower energy bills if they invest in upgrades to their home’s building envelope.
With federal dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act now available for energy efficient upgrades, now is the time for consumers to upgrade their home’s building envelope. According to the Department of Energy, for every dollar invested in home retrofits, homeowners could see returns of $2.78 in savings.
Consumers, paying high utility bills to counteract the extreme heat, may rush to immediately upgrade their appliances to more efficient models. However, the perceived savings in energy use and cost may not come to fruition if conditioned air is escaping through gaps, holes, and air leaks.
Experts recommend putting hard earned cash toward other retrofits, starting with proper insulation. Mandy Mahoney, Director of Building Technologies at the EPA, advises homeowners to upgrade their insulation “before you even ever think about buying new appliances.” Mahoney adds that “putting insulation in is the best way to not only make your house more comfortable, but also drop your energy bills.”
Jennifer Baptista, a licensed realtor, recommends using spray foam insulation to both save money and add to the overall value of a home. Spray foam insulation gives homeowners control over their heating and cooling needs, not to mention their bills.
Spray foam insulation is the obvious first step to making your home more comfortable and reducing overall energy consumption.