Somebody recently showed me an interesting article by Matt Yglesias called “The case for more energy.” In it, Yglesias suggests that we’ve spent too long focusing on energy austerity—how to get by with less—and efficiency, when a much better goal is to focus on energy abundance. That is, creating so much damn renewable energy that … 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
Editorial note: If by chance you’ve been reading from the first article, you know that Green Old Home has taken a pretty linear trajectory from basic energy saving habits, to big-picture energy concepts, to how to air seal your home and the basic tools you’ll need to do so. Going forward, we’re going to continue … 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 outlines the pros and cons of caulk and spray foam so that you can make smart choices about which to use for different jobs when air sealing your house. This article is also a summary of the information contained in the previous few articles, which cover the following topics in more detail: Types … 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
If you’ve read any other articles on Green Old Home, you probably already know that I think 100% silicone caulk is the single most useful product for do-it-yourself weatherization—despite the fact that you won’t find it in the weatherization aisle of most big box stores. But what about everybody’s other favorite sealant, the cans of … 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
If your goal is to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient, you will inevitably find yourself in the weatherization section of one of the big box stores. You know, the aisle where they sell weather stripping, door sweeps, and sheet plastic window covers. And that stuff’s all great. But frustratingly, those aisles usually don’t … Read more