Cooperative Living January 2020 - 29

FixerUpper | by Abby Berry, Contributing Writer
Three DIY Efficiency Projects
To Tackle This Year
A
New Year brings new opportunities to save energy and money. You might think energyefficiency
upgrades require a great deal of time and expense. But that's not always the case.
If you're interested in making your home more efficient but don't want to break the
bank, several DIY projects can help you tackle your energy bill. Let's look at three inexpensive
efficiency upgrades that can help you save energy throughout the year.
Trim Dryer Vent
- Level of difficulty: easy.
- Supplies needed: tin snips, gloves,
measuring tape and masking tape.
- Estimated cost: about $25
depending on the supplies you
already have.
Seal Air Leaks
- Level of difficulty: moderate.
- Supplies needed: caulk and caulk
gun, weather stripping, gloves,
putty knife and paper towels.
- Estimated cost: $25 to $50
depending on the materials
you purchase.
Insulate Attic
Stairs Opening
- Level of difficulty: moderate.
- Supplies needed: (if you build the
box yourself) rigid foam board,
faced blanket insulation, tape for
foam board, measuring tape,
utility knife, caulk and caulk gun,
and plywood.
- Estimated cost: $50 to $100
Saving energy doesn't have to be hard. With a little time and
effort, you can maximize energy savings and increase the
comfort of your home. To learn about additional ways to save,
contact your local electric cooperative. 
co-opliving.com
Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade
association representing electric co-ops in Virginia, Maryland and
Delaware, and across the country.
January 2020 | Cooperative Living | 27
PHOTO COURTESY
OF ALYSON HURT
If your dryer vent hose is too long, your dryer is working harder than it has to,
using more energy than necessary. The vent hose should be long enough for you
to pull the dryer a couple feet from the wall. The shape of the hose should form a
line -- it should not have a lot of slack with twists and curves. A shorter,
unobstructed vent hose increases the efficiency of your dryer, dries clothing
faster and reduces lint buildup, which can create potential fire hazards.
Simply measure, mark and trim the hose to the desired length, then reattach
the hose to your dryer and exterior vent. If you're unsure about the hose length,
check out YouTube.com for a quick video tutorial.
Sealing air leaks in your home can help you save 10% to 20% on heating and
cooling bills. Apply caulk around windows, doors, electrical wiring and
plumbing to seal in conditioned air. You should also weather strip exterior doors,
which can keep out drafts and help you control energy costs. Types of caulking
and weather stripping materials vary, but ask your local hardware or home store
for assistance if you're unsure about the supplies you need. For more
information, the Department of Energy provides step-by-step instructions.
Go to energy.gov and search " weatherstripping. "
A properly insulated attic is one of the best ways to optimize energy savings
and comfort in your home, but many homeowners don't consider insulating the
attic stairs, or the opening to your attic space. Even a well-insulated attic can leak
air through the stair opening, but luckily, there's an easy fix.
An insulated cover box can seal and insulate the attic stairs opening. You can
build your own insulated cover box or purchase a pre-built box or kit from a
local home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowe's for about $60. If you
decide to build your own, check out step-by-step instructions from the
Department of Energy. Go to energy.gov and search " attic stairs. " If your attic
opening is located in a garage that you do not heat and cool, this upgrade will
not be as effective.

http://www.YouTube.com http://www.energy.gov http://www.energy.gov http://www.co-opliving.com

Cooperative Living January 2020

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