Cooperative Living July 2021 - 28

EnergySense | by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen, Contributing Columnists
A large machine storage shed
can be divided, insulated, and
heated or cooled.
Should Outbuildings
Be Insulated?
Keeping your shed toasty could be
more expensive than you think
Dear Pat and Brad: We just purchased a home and
noticed the previous owner installed an electric wall
heater in the outdoor shed. How much will our electric
bill go up if we use this heater next winter? Should we
consider insulating the shed at some point? - Lloyd
ears ago, I worked on a homeenergy
contest that selected
homes with the highest energy
bills and helped the owners make
efficiency improvements. One year, the
home with the highest energy use had
an uninsulated shed that was heated in
order to keep several cans of leftover
paint from freezing. The cost of heating
the shed each winter was more than it
would have cost to replace the paint.
ENERGY FACTORS
The cost to heat or cool your
outdoor shed depends on your climate,
the size of the outbuilding and the price
you pay for electricity. I conducted a
quick calculation that showed heating
an uninsulated 6-by-8-foot shed could
cost twice as much as heating an
insulated 900-square-foot home.
Some outbuildings are heated with
26 | Cooperative Living | July 2021
Y
Dear Lloyd: Good questions. An uninsulated outbuilding
can be quite expensive to heat or cool, depending on
where you live. Even though we're currently experiencing
July's warmer temperatures, I'll focus on heating since
your shed includes the wall heater.
wood, which is a sound choice if
you have a free source of firewood.
Another strategy often seen in
workshops is a radiant heater directed
at the work area, perhaps in front of
a workbench. But, if you're paying
for your fuel and decide to keep
an outbuilding heated, you should
definitely insulate it.
THE MOISTURE FACTOR
Unless you live in a desert-dry
climate, consider the effect moisture
can have in an outbuilding. Moisture
enables rot, insects and mold to wreak
havoc on your structure, and produces
rust that can degrade tools and other
metals. If done right, heating and
insulating an outbuilding can reduce
or eliminate a moisture problem. But
insulation installed incorrectly can
trap moisture and foster mold growth.
Moisture in an outbuilding is
usually caused by three things: leaks
where water can get through (typically
through the roof, windows and
doorway); seepage through floors and
walls; or condensation when nighttime
temperatures drop. To prevent moisture
buildup, you need to eliminate
moisture sources and prevent
condensation.
As air cools, it cannot carry as much
moisture, and condensation occurs,
usually on the coolest object at hand.
Insulating walls and ceilings can keep
the interior wall or ceiling surface from
getting cold enough for condensation
to occur. Insulated wall or ceiling
cavities need to be carefully air sealed
so that condensation does not occur
inside the cavity.
I should also note that the cost of
heating and cooling an outbuilding can
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Cooperative Living July 2021

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