# Presentation: 118325

**ENERGY STAR Home Sealing**
**Improve home comfort and reduce energy bills**

## Problem: Houses are Leaky

**All the hidden air leaks in the home equal a hole the size of an open window!**

**Common Air Leaks**

## Result: Impacts of a Leaky Home

- Uncomfortable:** **
- 	Winter:
- 	   - Drafts by windows and doors
- 	   - 	Cold ceiling, floors and walls
- 	Summer:
-          - Hot ceiling or attic rooms
- Costly:
- 	Spending more to heat and cool the home because your system must work harder to maintain comfort

## Solution: ENERGY STAR Home Sealing

- Graphic used to identify products
- that are used in the Home Sealing process

## Benefits of ENERGY STAR Home Sealing

- Saves Money:  Cut energy bills by up to 10% (about $150 a year for an average home)
- Improves Comfort:  Homes are more comfortable and energy efficient during extreme temperatures
- Blocks Outdoor Pollutants:  Reduce the number of holes where dust, pollen, pollution, and pests can enter the home
- Reduces Outside Noise:**  **A tighter, well-insulated home helps makes the home quieter

**Fact:** ENERGY STAR Home Sealing is one of the most cost-effective ways to lower energy bills and improve comfort.

## Steps: How to Get Started

- Find and plug air leaks
- Plug the big holes first – usually in the attic and basement
- Add Insulation
- Acts like a blanket to keep the home warm
- and..... if you want to replace/upgrade windows
- Choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows that are appropriate for your climate

**Tip:** It is very important to seal air leaks _before_ adding insulation.

## Associated Products

| Product Images
[Customized by Retailer] | Purpose
 | Location |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Picture of Caulk | Seals off air leaks and stops drafts | Customized by Retailer |
| Picture of Spray foam | Seals off air leaks and stops drafts | Customized by Retailer |
| Picture of weather stripping, door sweeps, etc.
 | Blocks gaps around windows/doors. | Customized by Retailer |
| Picture of Insulation | Slows down heat moving into and out of homes through the walls, floors, and ceiling. | Customized by Retailer |

## Caulk

- _Application_:
- Use to form a flexible seal along small gaps (up to 1⁄2”)
- _Types of Products_:
- Acrylic-latex
- Silicone indoor/outdoor caulk
- Heat resistant caulk for use around hot flues and chimneys
- _Related Tools_:
- Caulk gun

**Tip:** To avoid applying too much use a caulk gun with automatic release

## Expanding Spray Foam

- _Application_: Use for wider gaps (1/2” to 3”), cracks along sill, and around electrical outlets, plumbing penetrations, and dryer vents
- _Product Types_:
- Latex based – best for use indoors
- Urethane – more durable, water resistant, use for outdoors
- _Related Tools_:
- Rubber gloves, eye protection, old clothes

**Tip: **Product can be very sticky and hard to remove so recommend to customers that they wear gloves during use.

## Weather stripping 

- _Application:_
- 	Weather stripping can be used for windows or doors
- _Product Types:_
- Rubber or foam strips for windows and doors
- Door sweeps and door thresholds
- Electrical outlet sealers

**Tip:** Customers should choose a type of weather stripping that will withstand the friction, weather, temperature changes, and wear and tear associated with the location of its use.

## Insulation

- _Application:_
- Insulation resists the transfer of heat through walls, ceiling,            or floor
- Resistance is measured in R-value
- A higher R-value means more resistance allowing for greater   comfort during extreme temperatures
- R-value can drop if air flows through or around insulation
- _Product Types:_
- Fiberglass rolls and batts
- Loose-fill fiberglass or cellulose
- Rigid foam board for covering big holes

**Tip:** If you can see the floor joists in your attic, you probably need to add more insulation.

## Benefits of ENERGY STAR Home Sealing

- Remember these benefits when talking to customersabout ENERGY STAR Home Sealing:
- Saves Money:  Cut energy bills by 10%
- Improves Comfort:  Stop cold drafts and feel warmer
- Blocks Outdoor Pollutants:  Reduce the number of holes where dust, pollen and insects can enter your home
- Reduces Outside Noise:**  **A tighter, well-insulated home helps makes the home quieter

**Tip:** Refer customers to the “Do-it-Yourself Guide to ENERGY STAR Home Sealing” for detailed ‘how-to’ instructions on sealing air leaks and adding insulation.

## Benefits:

**To learn more, visit the ENERGY STAR Training Center page at: **
**www.energystar.gov**

- A user-friendly and easily navigable micro-site containing training tools for Partners.
- Users can navigate throughout three main categories to find training resources relevant to
- them: **products**, **campaigns**, u**tilities/EEPS (energy efficiency program sponsors)**.
**Benefits:**
**EASY**: access to all relevant ENERGY STAR training materials and resources on your own with relative ease
**ACCURATE**: The most current training materials to share with your sales associates for increasing the sale of ENERGY STAR qualified products and services
**RELEVANT**: A location for collaboration and idea exchange with other Partners