Air Sealing Just One Consideration for New Home Buyers to Keep in Mind

Toledo, Ohio (PRWEB) February 19, 2014

A new home comes with many factors to keep in mind from location and size to aesthetics and style. But whether youre buying a brand new home or building your dream house from scratch, whats on the inside is just as important as whats on the outside.

With heating and cooling accounting for more than half (56 percent) of the energy used in a typical American home1 and thus representing the largest energy expense for most homeowners its important to keep energy efficiency top-of-mind. Air sealing offers a proven and cost-effective solution for reducing energy expenses and increasing the energy efficiency of a home.

As the name implies, air sealing is the process of filling gaps in a home where air may have the opportunity to enter or exit, ultimately impacting how much energy is needed to effectively heat and cool the living spaces. In a typical home, this air leakage can account for between 25 to 40 percent of the energy used for heating and cooling.2

Air leakage also affects homeowner comfort allowing moisture, drafts and unwanted noise to enter a house and can lead to an unpleasant living experience. Additionally, air infiltration may lower indoor air quality by allowing dust and airborne pollutants to enter the space, which can make even the most beautiful home unwelcoming.

An average home is built with nearly a mile of gaps, joints and openings leaving a lot of opportunity for air leakage, said Julian Francis, vice president and general manager of Residential Insulation at Owens Corning Insulating Systems, LLC. If youre building a new home, its vital to make sure its air sealed properly and if youre buying a home, its an important question to ask before signing on the dotted line. Reducing the amount of air that leaks into and out of a home is an effective way to minimize heating and cooling costs, which is worth more than any of the fanciest design elements.

To help builders and homeowners effectively achieve optimum energy efficiency in their homes, Owens Corning, a leader in the building materials industry for 75 years, has introduced a breakthrough air sealing solution that begins the sealing process as a home is being built. Extending the companys legacy of product innovation and building science leadership, Owens Corning EnergyComplete Sealant is part of a whole-home insulation and air sealing system designed for use in new construction homes and residential rebuilds. The sealants proprietary composition allows it to fill gaps and cracks inside walls before the drywall goes up to help prevent air leakage that can contribute to excessive energy use. In addition to its energy-saving benefits, it helps to reduce the chance of mold growth3 by keeping airborne moisture from entering wall cavities, and creates a first line of defense against insects and other pests4. It also reduces air infiltration by up to 70 percent and is effective at reducing exterior noise by up to 40 percent5 muffling the sounds from traffic, neighbors, barking dogs and other extraneous noise.

For todays increasingly conscious homeowners, EnergyComplete Sealant contributes to points of green building programs such as ENERGY STAR, LEED and the Home Innovations Research Lab National Green Building Standard, and is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, giving peace of mind that it is designed for use in indoor spaces and meets strict chemical emissions limits for indoor air quality.

For anyone looking at a new home, energy efficiency should be top-of-mind in conversations with builders and contractors and for optimal results, consider air sealing and insulating with Owens Corning EcoTouch insulation, Francis added. Paying attention to this important topic early in the process can lead to savings on monthly heating and cooling costs and a more comfortable home.

For more information on EnergyComplete Sealant, EcoTouch insulation or other Owens Corning insulation products, visit http://www.owenscorning.com.

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Air Sealing Just One Consideration for New Home Buyers to Keep in Mind