On Nov. 30, Bowen in Transition kicks off the fourth season of free one-hour mini energy audits in Bowen Island homes.
When BIT project leader Rod Marsh visits your house, he’ll start by asking some questions about what kind of heating systems you use, the age of the house and your annual bills for heat and light. He’ll then start taking readings of floor, ceiling, wall, door and window temperatures in each room of your house and from the outside, to identify where heat is escaping, using a thermal imaging camera. He’ll explore possible reasons for the heat leakage he finds, and ways to address it economically.
Rod’s approach to these audits is holistic — he looks for ways to improve the health, comfort and energy efficiency of your home. So in addition to heat loss, he’ll discuss issues of humidity, air circulation, lighting, and air quality with you. He’ll talk about insulation, how you heat your water, baseboard vs radiant heaters, the use of heat pumps, window-coverings and ceiling fans, thermostat settings, and the cost/benefit of upgrading your furnace, wood stove, lighting, appliances, windows, thermostats and wood stoves.
He can also show you how the thermal imaging camera, which you can borrow from the Library, works and how to take your own readings. If you’re keen, Rod is also looking for a homeowner or student to learn the ropes, starting as his assistant during this year’s audits.
Home heating, water heating and lighting are among our island’s largest energy uses. With some simple fixes and upgrades, not only can you make your home healthier, more comfortable and more energy-efficient, you can save money (some participants have reduced their bills up to 30 per cent), and reduce your home’s contribution to climate change proportionally. Rod can fill you in on rebates and other programs that can make major improvements more affordable.
You can sign up for the program, which runs from November through February, by emailing [email protected].
