Building Strategies

Air Sealing

Air sealing is one of the most cost-effective ways to make your home more energy efficient and goes hand in hand with proper insulation. By sealing air leaks in the envelope of your home, you prevent unwanted heat transfer, greatly reducing your heating and cooling bills. A certain amount of fresh air is necessary to maintain adequate indoor air quality, therefore according to the Department of Energy, it is recommended that you "reduce air leakage as much as possible and ... provide controlled ventilation as needed." The supporting diagram shows common air leak locations that you should aim to seal. To learn more, visit the US DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's pages and/or the Energy Star page on Insulation and Air Sealing.