Michigan Energy

If you have aluminum siding you may want to consider having it changed to vinyl siding. Aluminum is a poor insulator and there was no required code to have any insulation back in the 70's. Replacing with vinyl siding is more energy efficient. Code requires insulation board over your walls for more efficiency, plus, it looks and handles better with the wear and tear of nature much better.

FURNACE

Keeping your furnace properly maintained is also very important. If you have an old existing furnace you may want to replace it with a high energy efficient furnace(80% or better).

INSULATION

Making sure your home has enough insulation is one of the best ways to save money by reducing your heat loss in winter and helps keep the cool air in summer. One of the least cost effective things a home owner can do is get their attic inspected. If your home was built before 1995 and you have not added any insulation, then your home does not meet the required code of R-49(19 - 20 inches) for the state of Micighan. Also, it is very important to make sure you have proper ventilation. Most of your energy loss can go right out the roof.

ROOF

If your roof is discolored, peeling or algae covered, you will want to have your shingles replaced. Today's new 3 dimensional shingles are more durable, last longer then the standard 3 tab shingles. Also, they can dramatically change your roofs appearance.

WINDOWS

If you have old metal or outdated windows then getting new energy efficient windows is what you need. Since glass accounts for 80% to 90% of the total window area, it has the greatest impact on reducing your utility bills. More efficient glass also reduces or eliminates condensation during winter.

Since the argon gas is very dense, it insulates better than air. There is less movement of the argon between glass panes and therefore less heat is lost. Adding argon gas instead of air can increase the insulation value of the window up to 30%

Adding a special clear low-emissivity (low-E) coating to the inside surface of the glass increases energy efficiency. Almost all argon-filled windows use lowE glass. the combination of argon and low-E coatings reduce winter heat loss or summer heat gain by 75% as compared to single pane windows.

When comparing replacement windows, the structural quality of the frame is more important than the insulation value of the frame material itself. If a lot of air leaks in through the joints and gaps in the frame, even the most energy-efficient glass system will not be efective.

Don't just shop by price. A cheap window can become leaky, waste energy, and leave you very dissatisfied in the long run.