Green Living

Keeping energy in—and weather out—this winter

My friend Ed, the only person I know who owned an electric car back in the 1990s, used to be an energy auditor. He went into people’s homes and businesses and, with the help of a giant fan and a small smoke-emitting gadget, he searched for air leaks. By finding those leaks and plugging them, the owners could take a bite out of their energy costs.

So last winter, when Ed advised me to skip the expensive window replacement I was considering and start with some cheaper fixes, I listened. Not that he’s opposed to installing well-fitted, triple-paned, argon-filled windows with low-e glass as an energy-smart move, it’s just that simpler steps can block air leaks and bring a faster return on investment. His suggestions for a poor man’s winterizing plan:

• Replace screens with storm windows.
• Cover windows with heavy drapes or honeycomb-style blinds.
• Caulk leaks around windows and doors. An inexpensive ropy caulk (under $10 in most home and hardware stores) is really fun to use—kind of like playing with clay.
• Tightly close the flue damper in your fireplace when not in use.
• Insulate switchplates on outside walls with thin foam pads that slip behind the plates—found in home and hardware stores for less than $10.
• Check other places where leaks might occur: outside water faucets, kitchen and bathroom vents, and other heating vents and ducts throughout the house.