Learn About the Unique and Energy Efficient Products that we use - Product #2: Rex House Wrap

Why do we use REX™ House Wrap? After Reading the information below from the REX™ website you will quickly see why!

 

 

 

Features and Benefits

REX™ Wrap is a tear resistant woven and coated polypropylene weather resistant barrier that provides air and moisture protection. REX™ Wrap is manufactured with great translucency for easier on stud installation without the need for nailing marks and offers tear strength that will withstand the rigors of the job site and weather elements. Also, you can only get the patent pending HI-VQ Two Color Printing from Alpha Pro Tech Engineered Products, Inc.

• Micro perforated to allow moisture vapor to escape the wall cavity while holding out bulk water intrusion
• Great translucency for easy stud installation
• Excellent tear strength
• Meets or exceeds all applicable building codes

Check our favorite videos on YouTube!

Learn About the Unique and Energy Efficient Products that we use - Product #1: Roxul Insulation

To learn why we use Roxul Insulation (Stone Wool Insulation), here is the brief history and benefits/features of stone wool.

Origin & Properties of Stone Wool

Stone wool was discovered on the islands of Hawaii at the beginning of the century. It occurs there naturally as abyproduct of volcanic activity. In its manufactured state, stone wool combines the power of rock with the characteristics of typical insulation wool. In addition, thanks to its non-directional fiber orientation, it also exhibits some unique and valuable characteristics. Thermal insulation Stone wool is an excellent insulator and a vital component of an energy efficient building. In fact Insulation saves 12 times as much energy per pound in its first year in place as the energy used to produce it. [http://www.naima.org/pages/benefits/environ/effic.html]

Sound Absorption

The non-directional fiber orientation of the stone wool helps the absorption of acoustic waves and can reduce the intensity and propagation of noise.

Fire Resistant

Stone wool can withstand temperatures up to 2150º F (1177º C). Conequently it does not contribute either to the development and spread of fire or the release of toxic gases.

Water Repellent

Stone wool is water repellent yet vapor permeable. This means that the insulation cannot absorb water so the R-value is not affected. Additionally it is completely resistant to rot, mildew, mold and bacterial growth, contributing to a safer indoor environment.

Dimensional stability

Stone wool retains its characteristics unaltered over time. It undergoes only minimal changes in size or performance to the changing conditions of temperature and humidity.

How is Roxul Insulation made?

Production Process:

The production process for stone wool begins with the fusion of volcanic rock at a temperature of 1500° C (2732°F). Volcanic rock, slag and coke are automatically fed from the top of the cupola furnace. The melt runs out of the bottom of the furnace and onto the spinning machine, where the wool is spun. Minor amounts of binder and oil are added, and the wool is collected on a belt conveyor in the spinning chamber. The structure and density of the wool are adjusted before it enters the curing oven. These properties are maintained after the binder has been cured.

The cured wool then proceeds to the cutting saws and packing equipment or is led to off-line equipment for special treatment. The off-gases from the production – furnace, spinning chamber, curing oven – are cleaned in filters and after-burners before they enter the chimney. The waste inevitably created during the production is re-cycled.

A series of environmental equipment (filters, preheaters, afterburner and other systems of purification and collection) are featured in our production process to help make us environmentally responsible. 

Source of Information: http://www.roxul.com/stone+wool/origin+-c12-+properties+of+stone+wool

http://www.roxul.com/stone+wool/production+process

Learn more about us! www.CharisHomes.com

Get Connected with Charis Homes!

Existing Home Energy Tip # 5

Existing Home Energy Tip # 5 - Sealing Leaks

Many air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are easy to feel — like those around windows and doors. But holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces are usually bigger problems. Sealing these leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will have a great impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills. Click on the house diagram to see common air leak locations that you should aim to seal.

Homeowners are often concerned about sealing their house too tightly; however, this is very unlikely in most older homes. A certain amount of fresh air is needed for good indoor air quality and there are specifications that set the minimum amount of fresh air needed for a house. If you are concerned about how tight your home is, hire a contractor, such as a Home Energy Rater, who can use diagnostic tools to measure your home's actual leakage. If your home is too tight, a fresh air ventilation system may be recommended.

After any home sealing project, have a heating and cooling technician check to make sure that your combustion appliances (gas- or oil-fired furnace, water heater, and dryer) are venting properly. For additional information on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issues related to homes, such as combustion safety, visit EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Web site.

Source of Information: www.energystar.gov , http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_sealing

www.CharisHomes.com

Existing Home Energy Efficiency Tip # 4

Existing Home Energy Efficiency Tip # 4 - Schedule a Maintenance Check on your heating and cooling systems.

Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.
A typical maintenance check-up should include the following.

• Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.


• Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.


• Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.


• Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.


• Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Cooling Specific

• Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.


• Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.


• Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Heating Specific

• Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

Actions To Do Yourself

• Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure

Source: Energy Star - http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_maintenance

www.CharisHomes.com

Existing Home and New Home Energy Efficient Tip #3

Existing Home and New Home Energy Efficient Tip #3 - Install a Programmable Thermostat 

A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.

Simple Steps to Energy Savings with Programmable Thermostats

Achieve significant energy and money savings that are possible through the proper use of your programmable thermostat. Learn how to:

• Have your thermostat properly installed - Here's what you need to know about proper and safe installation of your programmable thermostat, as well as when you should call a certified HVAC contractor to handle the installation for you.
• Properly set and use your thermostat - Follow these guidelines to achieve savings.
• Save with your manual thermostat - If you choose to keep your manual thermostat, here are recommendations to help you save, too.

What else should I look for when buying a programmable thermostat?

Choose the right programmable thermostat - There are three types of programmable thermostats designed to best fit your daily schedule. Learn more about the energy saving features that each model offers.

Information Source: www.energystar.gov

www.CharisHomes.com

Existing Home Energy Efficient Tip #2 - Add Insulation

Existing Home Energy Efficient Tip #2 - Add Insulation

 

Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are several common types of insulation — fiberglass (in both batt and blown forms), cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam. Reflective insulation (or radiant barrier) is another insulating product which can help save energy in hot, sunny climates.
When correctly installed with air sealing, each type of insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during the hottest and coldest times of the year.
Insulation performance is measured by R-value — its ability to resist heat flow. Higher R-values mean more insulating power. Different R-values are recommended for walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces, depending on your area of the country. Insulation works best when air is not moving through or around it. So it is very important to seal air leaks before installing insulation to ensure that you get the best performance from the insulation.
To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is usually in the attic. A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your uncovered attic floor. If your insulation is level with or below the attic floor joists, you probably need to add more insulation. The recommended insulation level for most attics is R-38 (or about 12–15 inches, depending on the insulation type). In the coldest climates, insulating up to R-49 is recommended.
Building new and thinking this information doesn't apply? Well good news, it does! Insulation is just as important when building new. The greatest thing about building new is you can start with the right foundation. We recommend using an ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) foundation because the number one source of energy loss in your home is through the basement. Which is why starting with the correct foundation is one the most important decisions you can make when building a new home. To learn more about ICF foundation and walls read our first blog post.

Don't just stop at the foundation! You can use ICF's all the way to the trusses to provide even more insulation and energy efficiency. Don't want to spend the extra money on a full ICF home? Then use a higher R-Value of insulation of at least R-23. This combined with an ICF foundation will create an energy efficient home sealing the "envelope" or "shell" of your home — its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors. This often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. ENERGY STAR estimates that a knowledgeable homeowner or skilled contractor can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% on their total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating.

Sources of Information: www.energystar.gov

www.CharisHomes.com