Energy Smart Tip - Seal Your Building Envelope
Your building's "envelope" helps to keep heated or cooled air in. By sealing your building envelope, you ensure that every dollar spent for heating and cooling is not wasted through leaks. The building envelope includes:
Roof
A roof's energy efficiency is measured in its R-value (of insulation - for winter heating months) and its reflectivity (how much sun it will reflect - for summer cooling months). Visit Energy Star for more information about roofing.
Windows, Doors, and Skylights
Heat may be lost through the glass of windows, doors, and skylights - measured by the U-value. Visit the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory window page,
In our region, Energy Star estimates that upgrading from a single pane window can save $392 per year in energy costs (estimated average for a single-family residential home). Click to view a map, or click here to view a list of estimated savings for Minneapolis and Duluth. Energy Star provides tips for buying windows, doors, and skylights. Look for Energy Star-qualified windows, doors, and skylights (which meet certain standards).
Be sure to weatherize around each door and window with caulking, rubber seals, or a door sweep. This article from Energy Star covers sealing a home; many of these suggestions apply to a business as well.
Walls
This link from Energy Star provides a small business new construction plan, which takes into account many building envelope energy efficiency considerations before construction begins.
It is possible to improve insulation even after a building is built.
View page 5 of this document for information about duct insulation.
Resources:
Xcel Energy/E-Source Operations and Maintenance Advisor: Building Shell
Flex Your Power - Building Envelope: Office Buildings
Success Stories:
The Spring Branch Professional Building (Houston, TX) uses an Exterior Insulation and Finish System which improves insulation performance, reduces heating and cooling loads and improves efficiency.
For more energy efficiency tips, check out Quick Tips for Energy Efficiency.