Energy Saver Guy

Archive for the ‘Temperature Control’ Category

Programmable thermostats are less than $50 at your local hardware store!
Rather than trying to remember to turn the thermostat up or down when you are not going to be home, just program it to whatever is comfortable.

In winter conditions typically you can lower the temperature 5-8 degrees when you are not home and set it to kick up to the original temperature 30 minutes before you get home. You can also set it to a lower temperature when you are sleeping. You would do the opposite in the summer.

Energy Saving Basement Window Insulation

If you have older single pane basement windows with the metal frame, it’s a good idea to make rigid foam panels to seal them in the winter months. Using 1-2 inch rigid foam board will increase the R value from 0 to as much as 6. The biggest energy savings, return on investment, comes from going from 0 or no insulation to 6-10.

Watch this Video to learn how to install rigid foam insulation in your basement windows.

If you’d like to keep light flowing into your basement, you can still use caulk to seal where the metal frame meets the cement blocks or concrete. Remember the tip about cobwebs, the more cobwebs, the more airflow. Try to seal areas with the most cobwebs first.