Air leaks in your home can cost big bucks. If you have a standard new home 25% heating and cooling is leaking right out the window and roof. Think of your home as boat and the air leaks are water leaks in your hull. Every time you add another window and door you increase the holes in your boat. You can plug the leaks but its always going to have a slow leak.
Places to check for air leaks. Dryer vents are thin a aluminum ducts and leak and have little to no insulation. Doors leak air because they are designed to stop water not air. Windows are a huge savings or huge loss. They can have a low R-factor in the glass panes. The frame around the window have have some fiberglass shoved in the cracks but you should replace it with a foam insulation. This will greatly reduce your air leaks.
Chimneys leak out the flue and around the outside of the blocks, the space around the outside of the block can leak air from the top floor into the cold attic space. Same thing goes to recessed lighting. Bathroom fan vents. Kitchen fan vents out the wall or ceiling, the dampers do a minimal job when it comes to stopping air leaks.
What to do green up your space. Always look for chemically safe products, like spray foams and caulking. Any time you have a hole in the wall or ceiling check to see if its sealed off with a form or caulking. The more air leaks you stop to less energy you burn in keeping your home warm. reducing the fuel consumption is your first goal.
Green Notes: If you make your house to air tight you will have to install an air to air energy recovery ventilator. If you house has to few air leaks know you are reducing your outside air and your oxygen levels in the living spaces. But this is another topic in the near future.
