Shelter comes in various forms, sizes, and shapes, serving as a fundamental means to ensure our comfort by regulating our environment through energy management. Roofs, walls, and the building envelope offer protection against the elements and enable the control, dissipation, or redirection of heat and moisture. Mechanical systems, such as furnaces or water heaters, convert one type of energy (like electricity) into a usable form (such as warm air or hot water). Enhancing the energy efficiency of our homes not only improves comfort and reduces costs but also mitigates the negative environmental impact by minimizing local and regional pollution.
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It's essential to view any shelter or home as an integrated system, where changes to one aspect can affect all others either positively or negatively. For instance, increasing insulation in walls and ceilings can reduce heat loss, positively impacting energy consumption. However, it's crucial to consider other potential effects, such as the furnace becoming inefficient if it's now oversized due to the changes. This isn't to discourage improvements but emphasizes the importance of carefully assessing all aspects of any modifications.
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To achieve greater energy conservation, the key lies in reducing energy loss, optimizing the effectiveness and efficiency of materials, and incorporating renewable energy sources. The sequence in which these steps are taken matters. Addressing issues like excessive air leakage or uninsulated spaces should precede other measures. Rectifying easily fixable areas like drafty doors, windows, or leaky vents should be prioritized over more expensive upgrades like a high-efficiency furnace or solar panels. Uninsulated basements, accounting for up to 20% of energy loss, can often be insulated at a lower cost compared to implementing new mechanical or heat generation systems.
Often overlooked, proper and sufficient ventilation is vital to healthy home. In the absence of adequate ventilation, moisture can promote the growth of mold and lead to various undesirable health effects, as well as material degradation (compromised drywall integrity or reducing insulation effectiveness etc.). While air leakage in older homes can unintentionally provide ventilation, it often results in uncontrolled energy loss. If an older home is made airtight, the installation of a mechanical solution, such as a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) can be installed to address any potential ventilation issues. Older homes, with numerous small holes or gaps, may remain quite leaky, and it is unlikely that these will all be corrected. If moisture issues arise, such as condensation on windows, seeking advice from a professional building envelope specialist is advisable.
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For more detailed information on these topics, a comprehensive resource is the publication "Keeping the Heat In" by Natural Resources Canada.
