To the Editor:
Our last fuel oil delivery, on Feb. 1, 2011 cost us $3.25 per gallon, 65 cents higher than the rate exactly a year ago. I am certain most of your readers are having a similar experience. Heating the average Maine home is forecast to cost an estimated $200 more than last winter. Therefore it may be of interest that my fuel consumption for this winter to date (Feb. 1) is 22 percent lower than for the winter 2009/10, as of the same date. This, in spite of the fact that the current winter has been a lot colder so far.
How can this be? I did not spend a barrel full of money weatherizing the house, although I did have an energy audit. As an energy auditor with some 200 audits under my belt, I must confess I know a thing or two about energy and housing. So, as this more expensive winter drones on, I thought I’d share a few simple things I did to our house, as part of a long term project to improve its energy efficiency, gradually, as I can afford to and as my busy schedule permits.
First off, I caulked and sealed, with still more of this to do. Our energy audit has identified all the leaks, so this is easy to do, beginning with all the electrical outlets and switches throughout the house. I re-equipped the outside doors with better weather-stripping. My wife and I fabricated and installed window inserts on all our windows. This also eliminated the temptation to “leave the window open just a crack” in the bedroom at night. We now have a far better way to cool the room so we sleep better: we set the thermostat lower at night.
As part of the window project, we also cut the glass area of our north facing windows in half by means of removable, airtight shutters fabricated out of foam board insulation. These install the same way as the transparent window inserts. Factor in our small, four feet deep attached greenhouse off the kitchen and our windows (courtesy of the sun) are now net heat-gainers rather than losers.
I added a vapor barrier to part of the top floor ceiling (and must still finish the rest). I also sealed the basement ceiling – the holes around the plumbing, the wires and the ones that, in such an old house, are just there for some unknown reason. In an effort to gradually isolate the unheated basement from the heated living area, I insulated half the basement ceiling so far, with the other half still in progress.
Even so, I have already reduced this huge surface area between spaces with a temperature difference of some 15º. I also installed a small vent to admit fresh outdoor air for my aging oil boiler that until now was sucking its combustion air partly from upstairs.
I am probably forgetting some things I have done. This has been an ongoing, “as-I-have-time/ as-I-can-afford-it” process. I know we did several things to reduce the electric bill as well, but that’s another subject – I am focusing strictly on heating oil here.
Energy conservation has a way of growing on you. There is always more to learn (if you don’t you will probably be doing something wrong). It works, saves money, can be fun and can become a habit. I hope it’s also contagious.
For more information see www.midcoastgreencollaborative.org.
Paul Kando, Damariscotta
