The perfect present for your home and wallet

Sustainable Riverdale

By Mary Bandziukas
info@riverdalenature.org

The air is crisp, holidays are around the corner, and everyone’s thoughts are turning to … home energy audits.

Did you know that according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, home heating is the largest use of energy in the average home? If you want your home to be more efficient, you can do it by making sure you are heating your home, not the planet.

Whether you do it yourself or hire a contractor, it pays to bone up on the basics of home insulation before you start to install. Considerations go far beyond how many rolls of batting you will need and whether you are comfortable with walking on attic joists without putting a foot through the ceiling. Air sealing, moisture, ventilation and fire hazards are four important areas to assess.

Air sealing involves blocking the obvious sources of drafts where heated and cooled air moves from the inside to the outside of the building and vice versa, as well as finding hidden air leaks around ducts and utility conduits.

Moisture enters a home through air leaks as well as from internal sources such as cooking and washing. Moisture in attics and basements can reduce the effectiveness of the insulation in those spaces; it should be controlled and properly vented.

Air leaks and moisture should be addressed before installing insulation, because insulation often covers their sources.

A leaky old house might seem like a good thing if you are concerned about indoor air pollution. At least you know the house is ventilated. However, as the U.S. Department of Energy Web page on energy efficiency notes, “It is unwise to rely on air leakage for ventilation because it can’t be controlled.” On windy days, too much air comes in; on calm days not enough. It is better to seal air leaks and rely on windows, fans and vents for ventilation that you can control.

In addition to looking for sources of air leaks and moisture, look for any sources of heat, such as heating ducts or electrical equipment. Insulation must be installed properly around these heat sources to avoid the risk of fire.

Of course, once you’ve improved heating efficiency in your home, you’ve also improved its cooling efficiency. Look for Energy Star air conditioners and heating systems when your equipment needs to be replaced and you will save even more energy.

In Riverdale, residents can also take advantage of landscaping to cool and warm their homes. The urban forest provides more than beauty and habitat for wildlife. Deciduous trees — those with broad leaves that fall off in autumn — shade houses in the summer and allow the sun to warm a house in winter. If you have a choice in tree placement, deciduous trees should be placed to the south and west of a home.

Evergreen trees generally have dense foliage that remains on the tree year-round. A screen of evergreens along the north side of a property will buffer cold north winds and reduce drafts.

Mary Bandziukas, a Queens resident, has worked for more than 15 years as an urban planner and environmental program manager. She has been a consultant with the Riverdale Nature Preservancy for the past decade.

Sustainable Riverdale appears in the third issue of the month. It is the work of the Riverdale Nature Preservancy, done in conjunction with The Riverdale Press and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Have an issue you’d like to see addressed? E-mail newsroom@riverdalepress.com, and put Sustainable Riverdale in the subject line, or write to The Riverdale Press, 6155 Broadway, Bronx, NY 10471.

This is part of the December 18, 2008 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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