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Friday, June 28, 2024 • B3
THE GARDEN ISLAND
Start in the attic to keep your home cool BRANDPOINT Is your home ready for what may be another historically warm summer season? According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2023 was the planet’s warmest year on record and there is a onein-three chance that 2024 will be warmer than 2023.1 As hot temperatures can place a strain on indoor comfort as well as HVAC equipment and energy bills, now is a good time to make sure that your home is ready for the summer cooling season. Getting your home’s air conditioning equipment inspected and serviced is a good first step. A technician should check not only the equipment components of your home’s cooling system (condenser, thermostat, etc.), but also specific areas in your home that can affect indoor comfort and energy bills. The attic is an area where insufficient levels of insulation can allow temperatures to soar. Hot attic air can infiltrate other parts of the home, causing HVAC equipment to cycle on and off more frequently and increasing energy usage.
COURTESY OF BRANDPOINT
According to EnergyStar, done right, a properly sealed and insulated attic may save you up to $200 annually.
cerned about this area. Simply stated, air in the attic doesn’t necessarily stay in the attic. Warmer air will always seek to move toward cooler spaces. Why manage attic temps Thus, in the summer, soaring temperatures in the attic will A properly sealed attic with sufficient levels of attic insulation drive air toward cooler indoor arcan help keep temperatures eas. Having a well-insulated attic cooler throughout the home. Just can help reduce this heat transas insulation reduces heat loss in fer. the winter, it impedes the transMoisture is yet another considfer of heat from your attic to ineration. As moisture builds up in attics, conditions can be favorside your home in summer. Because the attic is typically able for mold growth, wood rot shut off from other parts of the and structural damage, threatenhouse, homeowners sometimes ing both comfort and safety. Attic ask why they should be coninsulation can also help guard
U.S. pending home sales index slides to record low Michael Sasso BLOOMBERG NEWS An index of U.S. pending existing-home sales unexpectedly fell in May to the lowest level on record as elevated mortgage rates and high prices discouraged prospective buyers. A gauge of contract signings from the National Association of Realtors decreased 2.1 percent to 70.8 last month, the lowest reading in data going back to 2001, the group said Thursday. The median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 0.5 percent gain. “The market is at an interesting point with rising inventory and lower demand,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a statement. “Supply and demand movements suggest easing home price appreciation in upcoming months.” Closings on previously owned homes have been stuck near an annualized 4 million for more than a year, partly because of the so-called lock-in effect, whereby sellers are unwilling to list their homes and part with their current low mortgage rates. Potential homebuyers are turned off by high selling prices, which hit a record $419,300 in May, although the market is gradually seeing a pickup in listings. On a call with reporters last week, Yun noted optimistically that the supply of existing homes was up more than 18 percent from a year ago. Mortgage rates A sustained easing in borrowing costs would help support sales. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is hovering around 7 percent, more than twice as high as at the end of 2021. While many had hoped the Federal Reserve would begin cutting interest rates soon, inflation that’s lingering above the Fed’s 2 percent target has tied the central bank’s hands. Officials have penciled in just one reduction this year, down from the three cuts they expected in March.
against the threats posed by moisture. How much insulation is sufficient for a home’s attic space? Every home is unique, but EnergyStar recommends the following guidelines. For homes in the South, a minimum of 13 inches of attic insulation should be installed. In colder climate zones, Energy Star recommends installing a minimum of 18 inches of insulation.2 Even though these minimums are recommended by EnergyStar, it has been estimated that 90 percent of homes across the U.S. are under-insulated.3 Budget is always important
when it comes to home improvements and the payback period should be considered. According to EnergyStar, done right, a properly sealed and insulated attic may save you up to $200 annually. 3 Consult an expert
serve energy by insulating the attic to a specified thickness. Contractors designated as AirCare Professionals are trained by Owens Corning and equipped with tools to assess attic insulation and recommend specific solutions to help target a desired level of energy efficiency. Beyond insulation, other factors in the attic can also contribute to comfort and energy issues. Over time, holes or poor connections in attic ductwork can allow particulates in attic air to make their way into the living area. Compromised attic ductwork can also provide a pathway for conditioned air to escape into other parts of the home. Signs of ductwork issues may include excess dust in the living areas of the home, or musty and unusual odors (think attic smell) in other areas. Consulting a professional, such as an AirCare Professional, can help ensure that ductwork is properly sealed and that the attic is optimized to support comfort and energy efficiency. He or she will evaluate the system for loose connections and evaluate the ductwork to ensure components are properly sealed. To find an AirCare professional, visit the online locator at HVAC Contractor Locator | Insulation | Owens Corning.
Achieving comfort and energy w 1: 2023 was the world’s warmest year on efficiency requires more than marecord, by far | National Oceanic and Atmoterials. A qualified HVAC technispheric Administration (noaa.gov) cian should bring a “whole home” w 2: Insulation Institute. (2016) Study: Boostapproach to caring for a home’s ing Home Insulation Can Cut Electricity, Fuel, air. He or she should evaluate the Use, Reduce Pollution attic to assess the amount of inw 3: Cool Off by Sealing and Insulating and Chill Out with ENERGY STAR - YouTube sulation currently installed and (youtube-nocookie.com) the potential opportunity to con-