Deck 5: Upgrade Home Energy Efficiency by Reducing Heat Transfer

Question 1

Insulation added to the floors of a home, especially in below grade basements or crawl spaces, should not be ____________________ as this type will trap moisture against the floor joists and flooring causing rot to develop in both.

Answer 1

sprayed foam

Question 2

____________________ and opaque shades are the best way to prevent direct sunlight from shining through windows.

Answer 2

Awnings

Question 3

____________________ trees are natural sun blockers.

Answer 3

Deciduous

Question 4

Describe how to deal with leaks around attic hatches.

Question 5

The points where most inside air leaks are detected, such as wall outlets or baseboards, do not connect directly to the outside of the house.

Question 6

In the northern hemisphere, ____________________-facing skylights provide maximum solar heat gain in all seasons and strong illumination.

Question 7

Discuss how trees placed on different sides of a home can contribute to energy efficiency.

Question 8

Seal the inside leaks that you have detected first.

Question 9

Discuss how to repair cracks in areas where the foundation and the lower edge of exterior brick or siding meet.

Question 10

The federal government has a(n) ____________________ that can help pay for insulation upgrades as well as other efficiency upgrades.

Question 11

Explain how to install batts around roof framing members.

Question 12

The rate at which a window, door, or skylight conducts heat flow is called its ____________________.

Question 13

Homes in nearly all the United States, except perhaps Alaska, will benefit to some extent from shade in summer, but only a fraction of the country is subject to persistent strong winds.

Question 14

Describe one of the ways windbreaks are commonly created.

Question 15

Discuss the maximum size a skylight should be.

Question 16

Any unsealed opening through which pipes, conduit, wiring, or cables pass from the outside through an exterior wall should be sealed air tight with caulking or similar material that provides as much insulating ____________________ as possible.

Question 17

Explain how to determine whether you should install windbreaks.

Question 18

If ____________________ is not an option, weather strip the window frame on the inside around the edges that interface with the casing.

Question 19

In summer, every square yard of a building's surface area is being bombarded with the equivalent of about 15,000 watts of heat and light energy.

Question 20

Awnings are less expensive than shades and will last many years even in direct sunlight.