Seal the Deal with Weather-Stripping

Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project

The greatest source of wasted heating and cooling energy in a home is air leaks. Weather-stripping is an easy do-it-yourself solution. It is a foam or vinyl strip with a self-adhesive backing that is used to seal doors and windows. The principal is similar to the seal on a refrigerator door.

You should choose the type of weather-stripping that can withstand the weathering conditions of its specific location. For doors and windows that are used most frequently, use more permanent types of weather-stripping. Click here for more information on choosing the correct weather-stripping product for your project.

Weather-stripping should be installed on a door jamb so the material creates a seal with the exterior face of the door on the top and both sides.

Weather-stripping on windows is more complicated than on doors, because it has to be placed in the tracks as well as above, below and between the sashes. Metal or plastic v-channel weather-stripping should be used in the tracks of the windows and in between the sashes. This may need nails or staples to secure it permanently. Foam or vinyl self-adhesive weather-stripping can be used between the upper and lower sashes and the frame.

Door sweeps, thresholds, and door shoes are good ways to seal gaps under exterior doors. Caulking is another way to eliminate door and window air leaks.

To learn more about sealing home air leaks, download this pdf fact sheet from the Florida Energy Systems Consortium.

What Kind of Insulation is Best for Your Home?

Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project

Insulation is crucial to your house, but how do you choose the right kind?

Insulation's effectiveness is measured by its R-value, which depends on the type and thickness of the insulation. When purchasing, compare the cost per square foot (installed) of your R-value choice.

Each type is made to fit in a different part of your house. Rolls or blankets are usually laid over the floor in the attic. Batts are made to fit between the studs in walls or between the joists of ceilings or floors. Loose fill insulation is blown into the attic or walls. High density damp spray is used in the attic or walls. Blown-in-blanket is a loose fill material held in place in walls or ceilings by netting.


Fiberglass is the most common type of insulation, manufactured from sand and recycled glass. Rock wool is made
from natural rocks and formed under high heat. Mineral wool is primarily made from recycled materials from steel mill wastes.Cellulose is made from recycled newsprint and cotton is often made from post-industrial recycled cloth like denim. These are treated with fire-retardant chemicals.

ISO board, XPS (blueboard), or EPS (beadboard) are usually found in rigid board form. These lightweight boards generally have an R-value of 4 to 7 per inch. They are intended for use in confined spaces such as exterior walls and cathedral ceilings.

Spray foams, used in the attic or walls, such as urethanes and polyicynene are also available with R-values from 3 to 6 per inch.

Which one is right for you? It depends on several things:

• Amount of space
• Bulk density of the materials (weight per volume) so your ceilings won’t sag
• Ease of access
• Budget
• Ease of replacement the insulation in case you had a roof or wall leak
• Whether you are building a new home or improving an existing home.

To learn more about home insulation, download this pdf fact sheet from the Florida Energy Systems Consortium.

Now See Here! What's Your SEER?

Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The cooling efficiency of your heat pump or air conditioning system is rated by a SEER number. The SEER is defined as a ratio of the average amount of cooling per unit of electricity used.

Efficiencies of some systems can be as high as SEER 17.0 or more. (Chances are that older homes have units with SEERs less than 10.) Note that it is important to understand that even though the SEER may be high, if the system is not in good condition (for example, leaky ductwork), you will not receive the full value of the efficiency as the air distribution system is not used to determine the SEER rating.

Units with the ENERGY STAR emblem are efficiently designed and offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort.

To learn more about air conditioning efficiency, click here to download this pdf fact sheet from the University of Florida/IFAS.

Are Dollars Falling Out of Your Doors?

Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project

When checking for leaks around doors and windows, use a dollar bill: insert the dollar bill in the opening. If it falls out or slips out easily, the weather-stripping should be repaired or replaced. The greatest source of wasted heating and cooling energy in a home is air leaks. (You can also test your refrigerator door seal this way.)

To learn more about caulking and weather-stripping,
download this pdf fact sheet from the Florida Energy Systems Consortium.

DOE Halts Sales of Inefficient Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners

The Department of Energy (DOE) has ordered three manufacturers to stop distributing 61 models of heat pumps and one air conditioner model that do not comply with federal energy conservation standards.

On June 3, DOE ordered Aspen Manufacturing, Inc.; Summit Manufacturing; and Advanced Distributor Products to halt the distribution of the noncompliant models and to notify all previous buyers of the noncompliant models. If the companies fail to respond or to notify their customers, DOE will seek a judicial order to prevent the sale of the noncompliant models.

Under federal law, manufacturers of certain products covered by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act must certify with DOE that their models meet the applicable minimum energy conservation standards. Based on certification information submitted to DOE, the agency discovered that Aspen Manufacturing had certified 58 heat pumps models and one air conditioner model that failed to meet federal energy efficiency standards by up to 7%. DOE also found one heat pump model manufactured by Summit Manufacturing that failed the energy use standards by about 16%, as well as two heat pump models manufactured by Advanced Distributor Products that missed the standard by 1%-2%.

DOE press release

DOE Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Program

Source: www.energy.gov