On Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:06:57 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Barss
wrote:


I'm looking for advice and ideas for improving energy efficiency in my house,
especially heat from the roof and attic.

I own an older house in Tucson, and we are trying to do what we can to
decrease our electricity (mostly air conditioning) bills. The house has
a peaked roof, with a low attic that has minimal access. The attic has some
blown-in loose insulation between the ceiling joists, and nothing on the
underside of the roof itself (and putting anything there is essentially
impossible). We have some degree of venting -- there are small
vents on the two end walls near the peak, and two passive vents (rotary
type) on the roof, about four feet down from the peak.

I've heard various things, some conflicting, about how to better
the situation:

a) blow in a lot more insulation.

How thick is the insulation now? Blown insulation will settle over
time and perhaps not have the same R value.

b) increase airflow using soffet vents (aka birdboard).
c) do both
d) do both, but with some sort of a channel up from the soffet
vents to above the insulation.


In a pinch, staple cardboard from the vent and above the blown in
material,

Spend a little time and find out why your doors and windows, leak most
energy. Smoke pencil, exotic incense helps show a draft.

DIY home audit