By JOY PERRINO CHOQUETTE

Winter is fast approaching and with the high cost of heating bills plaguing homeowners, there continues to be a need for energy efficiency and cost-effective winterization techniques in Vermont.

Logan Brown, customer service project manager at Efficiency Vermont, said the most important thing a homeowner can do to prepare a dwelling for the winter season is to have a home energy audit performed, and then to follow the auditor’s recommendations.

“Most frequently, auditors will identify insulation and air-sealing opportunities in the attic, basement and walls,” said Brown. “Air sealing involves using caulk or spray-applied urethane foam to stop air leaks where they often occur: behind knee walls, around plumbing vents and recessed lights, around attic hatches, basement rim joists and windows and doors.

“Insulating involves installing or adding additional insulation in attics, basements and walls.” Efficiency Vermont always recommends air sealing before insulating for best results, Brown said.

Rick Burgess of Environmental Foam of Vermont agrees insulation is one of the most important tools in helping to keep a home protected from winter winds and cold temperatures.

“An effective insulation system,” said Burgess, “requires three elements: insulation, air seal and a moisture barrier.” While traditional fiberglass insulation is effective, said Burgess, it requires a separate moisture barrier and air seal.

Using foam insulation, however, provides a moisture and air seal in one material. Vermont falls into one of the coldest climate zones in the country, and Burgess said the use of insulation – foam if possible – is “extremely important in our northern climate.”

Brown also advises homeowners to contact Efficiency Vermont’s customer service department for help finding an Energy Star contractor in their area who can perform the energy audit.

“Efficiency Vermont also has some information for homeowners who might want to tackle this sort of work themselves,” Brown said.

According to the Energy Star Web site (www.energystar.gov), home contractors can help homeowners approach their home energy needs holistically. Instead of installing a new heating system, Energy Star recommends homeowners use its Home Performance program to asses the entire dwelling as a system.

The basement is one area in the house that is often overlooked in terms of insulation, said Burgess. “By not insulating their basements, homeowners are losing a lot of heat through the concrete and stone.”

When fuel costs were low, people thought they didn’t really need to insulate, but Burgess said that’s not true: “Most existing homes can benefit greatly by adding insulation to their basements and attics.”

According to Brown, “some of the best improvements a homeowner can make often involve working in an attic or a basement; sometimes unpleasant places to work.”

“Comprehensive air sealing and insulation are the best steps any homeowner can take,” Brown said. “Many times, homeowners will think the first, best step they can take to save money on heating is to replace a heating system or to replace their windows. While there are certainly some energy savings associated with these measures, greater savings can often be had by focusing on basic air sealing and insulating.”

Foam insulation is effective, according to Burgess, and can reduce home heating and cooling bills by 50 percent. However, it is more expensive and not an option for all homeowners.

For owners of older homes, blown-in insulation is a good option to traditional fiberglass. It cannot, however, be used in walls. Traditionally, blown or sprayed-in insulation is used in older homes, particularly in the attic or other areas of the home where heat loss is prevalent and traditional insulation wouldn’t be appropriate.

There are three main types of blown or sprayed-in insulation: fiberglass, cellulose and cementitious foam. Blown-in insulation can be found through a number of local contractors, and is also carried at some of the larger home improvement centers in the area for those who prefer to take a do-it-yourself approach.

“Air sealing and insulating a home will provide significant cost savings; in fact, air sealing and insulating is the most cost effective way to save heating costs in the winter,” said Brown. “The most obvious savings are in heating costs, but there are other major benefits. Ice damming is generally a symptom of heat loss, and can be remedied through air sealing and insulation.”

Ice damming is when snow and ice build up in certain areas of a roof, which can lead to water damage inside the house. Air sealing and insulating can also reduce moisture problems in attics and walls, and can help prevent premature paint failure on exterior wall surfaces, said Brown.

Brown recommends homeowners start slowly when looking at services that might help them to increase their home energy savings.

“Instead of jumping into replacing all your windows or scrapping your existing heating system for a new one, I would recommend spending $300 to $400 on a professional home energy audit, and using the information you gain through the audit to guide the improvements you make,” said Brown. “Call Efficiency Vermont’s Customer Service department, and we can help you find a certified Home Performance with Energy Star contractor in your area who can help.”

In the Champlain Valley, Brown noted income-qualified homeowners can take advantage of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Low-Income Weatherization Program (www.cvoeo.org/htm/Weatherization/weatherization_home.html).

While spending money on home improvements might be at the bottom of most homeowners’ to-do lists in this economy, weatherizing one’s home for winter is a case where prevention might be the best medicine.