At The Co-operators, part of our commitment to sustainability is helping our clients find ways to be more energy conscious at home. With colder weather on the way, now is the perfect time to check for drafts in your home.

If you feel cold air coming in around your doors and windows, you can be sure that the warm air from inside is leaking out, too. Not only is this costly in terms of your heating bill, it’s also a waste of energy.

Fortunately, most drafts are inexpensive and simple to fix; a few beads of caulking and some weatherstripping can reduce the loss of heat from your home by up to 10 per cent. If ten thousand gas-heated homes were draft proofed enough to cut fuel consumption by even five per cent, it would save a kilotonne of carbon dioxide emissions each year.*

Draft proofing also helps regulate the humidity of your house, creating all-season comfort. In spring and fall, it prevents damp air from entering through gaps and cracks and making your home feel colder than it really is. In winter it reduces static, as well as dry throats and skin, by keeping more moisture inside.

How to draft proof your home

• Starting in the basement, check for cold drafts by running your hand over windowsills, doors and walls. Replace old caulk and weatherstripping.
  
  
• For drafty exterior doors, add caulk between the wall and doorframe, and add weatherstripping along the top and sides. Add a door sweep to the bottom edge.
  
  
• Check the foundation inside and out and seal any cracks.
  
  
• Sometimes, drafts can leak through electrical outlets. Use child safety plugs or gaskets that fit behind the cover plates.
  
  
• Use curtains, blinds and shades to help regulate the temperature in your home.
  
  
• If you can’t replace or repair older, inefficient windows, cover them with plastic sheeting for the winter.

Draft proofing is an excellent energy saver, but it is possible to overdo it. Your home needs adequate airflow and ventilation to prevent mould and carbon monoxide buildup. Check with a licensed electrician to see what automatic ventilation options are right for your home.

For more ways to save energy in your home, check with your provincial hydro authority for free home energy assessments. Some cities and provinces, through Natural Resources Canada, also offer tax-free government grants and rebates for energy-saving improvements you make to your home.

*Source: BC Hydro