Building Envelop
Building Envelop
On this page:
Air Sealing
Air sealing is one of the most affordable and easy ways to improve the energy efficiency of a home. It’s the single most important thing you can do improve the energy efficiency of your home and should be the first step of any retrofit project. You can save up to 30 per cent of your energy costs by air sealing areas where energy loss occurs.
Air sealing impacts the building envelop of your home. The building envelop is the physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment, including the resistance to air, water, heat, light, and noise transfer. Older homes typically have more air leaks, around windows and doors, electrical outlets, and cracks in the foundation and walls. You can seal air leaks in your home with weather-stripping and caulking or by applying gaskets and tapes.
What to Look For
- Detect all sources of air leakage before you undertake your project; asses your ventilation needs to ensure adequate indoor air quality.
- Each house will respond to air sealing in its own way, so monitoring is important. Older homes may require remedial measures – such as mould or asbestos removal before comprehensive air sealing.
- Every time you insulate, install or upgrade the air barrier system, it’s important to ensure that moisture does not enter the insulation or building envelope.
- Types of air sealing products include:
- Caulking, a putty-like substance best applied to non-moveable gaps like baseboards and wood trim
- Weather-stripping tapes and plastic forms
- Expandable spray foam which can be applied to irregular-shaped air gaps
- Shrink-wrap plastics which can be applied to the interior of windows
- For detailed advice on air-sealing contract a professional installer.
Things to Consider
- Be sure to check window glazing, thresholds and door/window frames and electrical outlets and switches as potential sources of air leakage.
- Choose premium caulks for durability. Practice running and smoothing beads before you do the actual job.
- Check the size and colour of doors and windows before purchasing weather-stripping to ensure you buy the right product. Adhesive-backed foams and tapes can lose their effectiveness over time so you may need to replace it every few years.
- Before you start your project, apply to see if you’re eligible for the Better Homes Kingston Program.
- Get a home energy evaluation to help you understand how your home uses energy and identify all improvement opportunities.
- Check with our Energy Coach, your utility provider or retailer to see if there are any rebates available.
Cost
$200 – $1,500
Source: Natural Resources Canada
Doors
In addition to providing security, energy-efficient doors prevent air and temperature leak from the house. Doors come in a variety of materials, some of which reduce heat flow better than others. Depending on the style and type of insulation, for example, metal-clad doors can be more efficient than solid wooden doors. No matter what the material, ill-fitting doors lose energy and can make your home drafty and uncomfortable.
What to Look For
- Doors made of materials with high insulating values, such as fibreglass, vinyl, or steel.
- Wood, vinyl or thermally broken metal frame.
- Low air leakage rates (for pre-hung door systems).
- Maintenance-free framing materials.
- A high energy efficiency rating or a minimum of double glazing with a 12 mm (half-inch) or greater air space.
Things to Consider
- Make sure that windows, doors and skylights are ENERGY STAR® certified and hire a professional installer to ensure they perform their best.
- Warranties differ from door supplier and type; compare before you purchase.
- Before you start your project, apply to see if you’re eligible for the Better Homes Kingston Program.
- Get a home energy evaluation to help you understand how your home uses energy and identify all improvement opportunities.
- Check with our Energy Coach, your utility provider or retailer to see if there are any rebates available.
Cost
$200 or more per door.
Source: Natural Resources Canada
Insulation: Attic
Insulation helps keep outdoor air from getting inside your home. It also prevents indoor air from escaping. For maximum energy efficiency, attics should be sealed, insulated, and ventilated.
Air leaks in your attic will cause substantial heat loss and lead to a variety of moisture-related problems in your home.
What to Look For
- Insulation is rated by its R-value. “R” stands for resistance and the higher the R-value, the more efficiently it resists the transfer of heat from one area to another.
- Different types of insulation have different R-values, but you can combine them to achieve a higher overall rating.
- The recommended R-value for attic insulation in Ontario is between R-50 to R-60.
- The most common types of insulation used in attics are spray form, loose-fill, and batt and blanket insulation.
Things to Consider
- Ensure your project meets the minimum R-Value needed to receive available rebates.
- Hire a professional. Improper installation can lower the R-value of the material, and there are health and safety measures that must be considered.
- Before you start your project, apply to see if you’re eligible for the Better Homes Kingston Program.
- Get a home energy evaluation to help you understand how your home uses energy and identify all improvement opportunities.
- Check with our Energy Coach, your utility provider or retailer to see if there are any rebates available.
Cost
$1.50 to $3.50/sq. ft.
Source: Natural Resources Canada
Insulation: Basement
A basement can account for about 20 per cent of a home’s total heat loss. Adding insulation to your basement is important whether or not space will be finished. For optimal energy efficiency, your home should be properly insulated from the roof down to its foundation.
Much like your attic, basements need to be sealed, insulated, and ventilated. Proper insulation not only reduces heating and cooling costs but also improves comfort. The materials used to insulate your basement will depend on your foundation and whether you need to insulate inside or outside of your home.
What to Look For
- Insulation is rated by its R-value. “R” is the resistance and the higher an insulation’s R-value, the more efficiently it resists the transfer of heat from one area to another. Different types of insulation have different R-values, and they can be combined to achieve a higher overall R-value rating.
- The goal is to achieve a minimum of R12 for 100 per cent basement.
Things to Consider
- Before planning your renovation, assess your basement. Check for water leaks, dampness and determine if you need interior or exterior insulation.
- Do not insulate the interior of a basement with leaks or dampness problems.
- Ensure your project meets the minimum R-value needed to receive any available rebates.
- Before you start your project, apply to see if you’re eligible for the Better Homes Kingston Program.
- Get a home energy evaluation to help you understand how your home uses energy and identify all improvement opportunities.
- Check with our Energy Coach, your utility provider or retailer to see if there are any rebates available.
Cost
$6,500 to $18,000
Insulation: Walls
Walls can account for up to 20 per cent of heat loss in your home. In addition to heat loss through your walls, cracks and penetrations may allow uncontrolled air leakage into and out of your home.
Insulation is designed to prevent heat or sound from being transmitted from one area to another. It works by trapping pockets of air and slowing down the in/out process. The type of insulation you need will depend on the type of walls (i.e. solid, concrete block, frame) in your home. You can install one or more of the following: blown-in, rigid board, batt/blanket and spray foam insulation.
What to Look For
- Insulation is rated by its R-value. “R” is the resistance and the higher an insulation’s R-value, the more efficiently it resists the transfer of heat from one area to another.
- Different types of insulation have different R-values. You can use more than one type to achieve a higher overall R-value rating.
Things to Consider
- Cold floors and walls in the winter and mould growth are signs of a poorly insulated home.
- Ensure your project meets the minimum R-value required to be eligible for rebates, if available.
- Hire a professional. Improper installation can lower the R-value of the material, and there are health and safety considerations as well.
- Before you start your project, apply to see if you’re eligible for the Better Homes Kingston Program and get a home energy evaluation to help you understand how your home uses energy and identify all improvement opportunities.
- Check with our Energy Coach, your utility provider or retailer to see if there are any rebates available.
Cost
$150 to $3,000, plus installation.
Source: Natural Resources Canada
Windows
Walls can account for up to 20 per cent of heat loss in your home. In addition to heat loss through your walls, cracks and penetrations may allow uncontrolled air leakage into and out of your home.
Insulation is designed to prevent heat or sound from being transmitted from one area to another. It works by trapping pockets of air and slowing down the in/out process. The type of insulation you need will depend on the type of walls (i.e. solid, concrete block, frame) in your home. You can install one or more of the following: blown-in, rigid board, batt/blanket and spray foam insulation.
What to Look For
- Insulation is rated by its R-value. “R” is the resistance and the higher an insulation’s R-value, the more efficiently it resists the transfer of heat from one area to another.
- Different types of insulation have different R-values. You can use more than one type to achieve a higher overall R-value rating.
Things to Consider
- Cold floors and walls in the winter and mould growth are signs of a poorly insulated home.
- Ensure your project meets the minimum R-value required to be eligible for rebates, if available.
- Hire a professional. Improper installation can lower the R-value of the material, and there are health and safety considerations as well.
- Before you start your project, apply to see if you’re eligible for the Better Homes Kingston Program.
- Get a home energy evaluation to help you understand how your home uses energy and identify all improvement opportunities.
- Check with our Energy Coach, your utility provider or retailer to see if there are any rebates available.
Cost
$150 to $3,000, plus installation.
Source: Natural Resources Canada