As we talked about in a recent article, replacing your old incandescent bulbs with LEDs is one of the biggest no-brainers in energy savings. Even if you’re somebody who doesn’t have the time or motivation to crawl through your attic with a can of spray foam, there’s just no excuse not to spend an hour … Read more
If you’ve read any of the other articles on Green Old Home, you might have noticed a theme: I don’t want you to have to do your work twice. That’s why we have an article called, for example, “How to Caulk for Durable Seals,” and another discussing whether caulk or spray foam are more durable … Read more
This article explains how to safely air seal electrical boxes to tighten your home’s thermal envelope. Electrical penetrations are often responsible for holes in the most critical locations in your envelope, making them a prime target when your goal is to air seal your home. However, particularly if you own a home with old wiring, … Read more
Anyone interested in air sealing their home is going to notice sooner or later that their thermal envelope is regularly punctured by electrical stuff: light fixtures, switches, and receptacles (outlets). All of these things, collectively called “devices,” are powered by wires running through your walls, ceilings, and floors. The wires exit those walls, ceilings, or … Read more
Making a removable chimney plug is one of the quickest and cheapest projects you can do to improve your old home’s energy efficiency. You might even have all the materials you need already, making the project 100% benefit and 0% cost. And depending on how leaky your chimney currently is—a chimney flue can be the … Read more
This article will teach you how to use cans of single-component closed-cell expanding polyurethane foam—AKA Great Stuff—to air seal gaps, cracks, and joints in your house. As discussed in the previous article on the properties of spray foam, your goal when using those cans should be to air seal, not insulate, your home. If you’re … Read more
This article will teach you how to make sure your caulked joints, gaps, and cracks stay sealed for as long as possible. When you’re air sealing your home (or caulking anything else around your house!), the last thing you want is for your work to go to waste. And unlike the caulk around your kitchen … Read more