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Renovating for Energy Savings
There are many benefits in making energy saving improvements in your home. These improvements can reduce: energy use, drafts, summer overheating, moisture and condensation problems, noise from outside the house and greenhouse gas emissions; as well as improve: indoor air quality, humidity levels in dry northern houses and comfort level. The following fact sheets describe options for saving energy in houses of specific styles and ages.
These documents are available in Adobe Acrobat format. To read the Adobe Acrobat file, you will need the free Adobe Reader available from Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Pre-World War II Houses
The techniques and materials used in the construction of pre-World War II houses have generally been rendered obsolete by decades of innovation. These older houses therefore often benefit greatly from energy-saving improvements. Topics covered include draft proofing, windows, basement floors, basement walls, ceiling/roof insulation, exterior walls, exterior doors and heating systems.
Post-War 1 1½-Storey Homes
Built between 1945 and 1960, 1½-storey homes typically have bedrooms within the roof space, the living area on the main floor, an unfinished basement and a relatively small finished floor area. Topics covered include draftproofing, windows, basement floors, basement walls, ceiling/roof insulation, exterior walls, exterior doors and heating systems.
Post-60s Two-Storey Homes
Two-storey houses built since the beginning of the 1970s generally have a modest to ample finished floor area, a full basement (ranging from unfinished to finished) and possibly an attached garage. Topics covered include draftproofing, windows, basement floors, basement walls, ceiling/roof insulation, exterior walls, exterior doors, garage doors and heating systems.
1960s or 70s One-Storey Homes
Many one-storey houses, also known as bungalows or ranchers, were built in the 1960s and 70s. The finished floor area of this house type can vary considerably, and basements range from uninsulated to finished with a recreation room and utility area. Topics covered include draftproofing, windows, basement walls, ceiling/roof insulation, exterior walls, exterior doors and heating systems.
Split-Level Home
Split-level homes have been built since the late 1940s and can take the form of either three- or four-level splits. Often the original designs incorporated a built-in garage at the lowest level and a crawlspace (sometimes uninsulated) under the mid-level. Topics covered include draftproofing, windows, basement and crawlspace walls, ceiling/roof insulation, exterior walls, exterior doors and heating systems.
Split Entry Homes
Split entry or bi-level houses have been built since the late 1950s. The defining characteristic of this design is the location of the main entrance on a landing midway between the lower and upper floors. The basement area is at least partially finished and typically contains two or three finished rooms. Topics covered include draftproofing, exterior walls, exterior doors, basements, ceiling/roof insulation, windows and heating systems.
Mobile Homes
One-level mobile and mini-homes have been built since the 1950s and can be found in single- and double-wide configurations. Mobile and mini- homes can be built on either pile foundations or a basement/crawlspace. Topics covered include draftproofing, ceiling/roof insulation, windows, basements and crawlspaces, exterior doors and heating systems.
Duplexes and Triplexes
Up-and-down duplexes and triplexes fall into two categories: newer units are generally "purpose-built", while older examples have typically been converted from single-family houses. Topics covered include draftproofing, ceiling/roof insulation, exterior walls, windows, basement walls, exterior walls, doors and heating systems.
Row Houses
Row houses are economical two-storey buildings with a moderate amount of finished living space. The full-sized basement is often unfinished and sometimes incorporates a garage; newer units are more likely to have a finished basement. Topics covered include draftproofing, common walls, ceiling/roof insulation, exterior walls, windows, basement walls, doors and heating systems.
Homes with Walkout Basements
Homes with walkout basements are built on sloping, hillside sites and feature an exterior door opening into a partially or fully finished basement. Topics covered include draftproofing, windows, ceiling/roof insulation, basement walls, exterior walls, exterior doors and heating systems.
Common Additions
This fact sheet describes the typical energy saving measures that can be applied to five of the most common types of additions: enclosed porches, simple one-room additions, upper floor dormers, carports/garages as living space and sunrooms/solariums. The energy-saving topics covered include draftproofing, windows, foundations, insulation, exterior walls and heating systems.
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