Originally intended to document my experience of DeLorean ownership, focus is often radical and strange, boring and obtuse.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Losing

Caution: Tube empties from toilet directly into street.I keep losing things. My most recent rash of losses began when we bought this house. I was losing heat throught my ceiling and attic because my insulation was, in some places R-0, in others R-10, and in a lucky few places, R-25.

This caused a loss of money, as I continually paid more and more on my Natural Gas bill each month. To put this into perspective: my old house was 850 sq. ft. and my entire annual gas bill, including gas dryer and water heater, came to about $720.

In our new house of about 1700 sq. ft. (built in 1939) I am paying almost that much for January and February, and we use an electric dryer now.

We decided to have a Home Energy Audit done on our house because the goverment gives grants to cover the cost of lots of improvements. The audit costs about $300, but identifies the weak areas of your home, indicates what you should do to fix them, and informs the goverment of everything. Once you've completed your work, the auditor comes back for a second visit, tests your house again, and reports the improved numbers back to the goverment, who then cuts you a fat cheque for a million dollars.

When the auditor came in late September, I took pictures of his fan system that evacuated the air from our house. This is how air leaks are found. Here's where the losing theme comes into play again - I lost the pictures I took (along with the pictures I took of me making my Doc Brown costume. Yes, even more losing).

Our audit indicated, among other things, that we currently have a low level of insulation in our attic, and that if we improved the Resistance value to R-40, we'd receive $400 from the Provincial Gov't and $400 from the Federal Gov't. Sweet!

The Report:
Your house currently rates 35 (out of 100). If you implement all of the recommendations, you could reduce your energy consumption by up to 24% and increase its energy efficiency rating to 51. The average efficiency rating for a 1939 house in Canada is 44.


The standard energy efficiency of new homes built in Ontario is 75. To qualify for an "Energy Star" rating, your house must be 80-100.

We got estimates for doing the work, and things got even sweeter. We could insulate our 900 sq. ft. attic with blown fibreglass for $810. But, if we wanted to save even more money, they suggested doing R-50 for an additional $80. I said yes. Who wouldn't? Maybe someone who didn't have $80. But not me!

The crew came within a few days and filled our attic with practically 3 feet of fluffy, scratchy insulation, pumped through a large plastic tube. It was all over the floors and stuck to our clothes.

Upon completion, our house was so warm that everything began melting. We've had the a/c on 3 days this week, and there's no end to the heat wave in sight. But seriously, I have to say I'm quite pleased and hope that my losing streak is now over.

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9 Comments:

Blogger Ellie Creek Ellis said...

that's wonderful your gov't helps you with your house's efficiency. i think our prez likes it when we have to consume more....keeps his rich oil buddies in the cash flow...you know...the dough...is it so???

12:56:00 AM

 
Blogger honkeie said...

Do they give grants to help improve heat in the bedroom? ;)

6:07:00 AM

 
Blogger Monogram Queen said...

I hope your losing streak if over with too and i'm so with ms. creek on the last thing she said! Oy!

12:20:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Sorry to hear about Dubya's oil retardedness - but I guess it's no surprise.

As for sex grants, I suppose our monthly baby bonus for each kid we have covers that.

1:43:00 PM

 
Blogger Bella said...

Cozy.

6:05:00 PM

 
Blogger Louisiana said...

i thought belly dancing was all about the tummy and was i ever surprised!

it is amazing how you have to take your body apart into sections and then learn individual movements for each of them and then do them in combination, lol..

i didn't think you can do that to the body ;p

but you can and i'm giving it all i got..

being flexible and double jointed has helped. needing to spread my wings and stop being so shy and increase my self steem are good incentives, lol..

the workout is beyond amazing. i end up soaked (yuck) after an hour of straight working...

but it is so much fun and i feel so sexy and i love the movements and the flow and the costumes...

so i'm working on putting my life together better than ever. in a healthy way moving forward.

Jodi told me of all that is on his plate and i hope you know how happy i'm for what it could all mean for you and Jodi and brother and Pete....
i just wish i wouldn't have ever suggested that J apply for the job or encouraged Jodi to invite him...

it's hard to love most of you as much as i do, lol..but so it's life.

i hope you are well and that your pain is manageable. i hope you know that if you ever want to vent about it i'm here for i know how it sucks..

you have a wonderful partner in your wife and i know you are in good hands and that makes me happy.

keep on tugging at it and keep on smiling..much love and hugs to all..

9:52:00 PM

 
Blogger ZoeyBella said...

All that aside, that is a pretty snazzy hose you have there...

4:16:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Snazzy bare attic walls & trusses? I agree! Kinda has the rustic feel. :)

6:51:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Wait... what?

11:34:00 PM

 

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