Living Like Ed - (Page 35) Ironically, the cellulose insulation used today is made from newspaper, too, but we’ve come a long way since 1936. Today’s insulation is made from recycled wood fiber, primarily newsprint. This insulation is also manufactured in a way that requires far less energy than the manufacturing processes for other kinds of insulation. Adding cellulose insulation to your walls does require the drilling of holes, so you’ll have to at least touch up the exterior paint after the work gets done. Since I had a repaint scheduled for the outside of my house, I timed the installation of this new insulation to coordinate with the painter’s schedule. This way, I saved money on labor, since the painting had to be done only once. Before the painter came, I had a company go around the house and drill holes above and below the fire block in between the studs. The fire block is a small piece of wood at shoulder level, approximately, that fills the void between the vertical two-by-fours. It slows a fire from spreading because it blocks the “chimney” effect between the vertical combustible wood. Every 16 inches, on center, there are studs, which are the vertical members on any house. These guys went between the studs and blew in cellulose insulation. I think they charged me about a thousand dollars, but right away, the house got quieter, and it got more energy efficient. 35 1: home DOUBLE-PANE WINDOWS Walls and attics are not the only parts of your home that need insulation. A pretty sizable portion of your home’s perimeter is made up of windows. Windows can be one of your home’s most attractive features. They provide natural light, beautiful views, and ventilation. A certain ratio of windows to floor space is even required by law—for light, for ventilation, and to provide escape routes in case of fire. Unfortunately, most windows have a very low R-value, somewhere around R-1 or R-2. That Get Energymeans they can be responsible for Efficient Windows a lot of wasted energy—up to 25 COST: from about percent of your home heating bill. $129 per window plus installation It’s pretty easy to tell how efficient your windows are. Can you products—including my own Begley’s Best line—made from natural substances such as pine,
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