Blog

May 28, 2023

Seal and Insulate Your Building

Lower your heating and cooling costs and improve your indoor air quality by air sealing and insulating your building or business. Air leaks and drafts through your building’s walls, doors, basements,

Lower your heating and cooling costs and improve your indoor air quality by air sealing and insulating your building or business.

Air leaks and drafts through your building’s walls, doors, basements, and windows waste a lot of energy, increase your energy bills, and can lead to an unhealthy indoor environment. When you properly seal and insulate your building, you can reduce heating and cooling costs while creating a more comfortable environment for your staff, customers, and/or tenants. Not all air leakage is bad, however, as a building that is “sealed” too tightly may experience worse indoor air quality than a leaky building. Potential issues include elevated humidity, stagnant air, and increased levels of carbon monoxide if a building uses equipment and machinery that burn fossil fuels.

To understand how well your business or multifamily building is sealed and insulated, start by working with a qualified contractor to conduct an energy assessment. A building performance contractor can evaluate and determine the appropriate levels of insulation, air sealing, and ventilation to safely reduce heating and cooling expenses for your building(s).

There are multiple products to better seal and insulate your building. Common products for sealing include basic spray foams and silicone or acrylic latex caulk. Meanwhile, prevalent products for insulation materials include fiberglass, cellulose, and spray foam. Your contractor will recommend sealing and insulation products that are best suited for your building(s).

Programs and incentives are available for businesses, commercial buildings, and multifamily buildings to receive a professional assessment of their air sealing and insulation and upgrade their building envelope.

Air sealing and insulating your building(s) may be good for your business if you are:

Air sealing and insulation go hand in hand with your building’s HVAC systems, so be sure to make sure your building has been properly sealed and insulated before replacing your HVAC equipment. HVAC upgrades, such as installing clean heating and cooling heat pump systems, can improve your bottom line and futureproof your business against volatile global energy markets.

Explore financial and technical support opportunities available to businesses for making HVAC and complementary energy improvements, including:

Stay up to date on energy-saving programs and incentives, industry best practices, and more.

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