Our Home Energy Coach, Philip Drader, shares how home energy efficiency can contribute to a comfortable home and saving money by reducing wasted energy. When you help a toddler get dressed, you don’t put the snowsuit on after the boots. And when doing energy efficiency renovations, it helps to know what the best order to do work in. Avoid common pitfalls and manage your renovation like a pro. From attic to basement, figure out the scope of work before you even begin.

1. Home energy
efficiency 101

2. Who we are. How we help.
• An environmental charity and social enterprise
• Serving Waterloo Region since 1999
• Focusing on energy and water sustainability
Funding:
Local partners, contracts, grants, client fees
and donations
Our mission:
REEP Green Solutions

3. PHILIP DRADER
Home Energy
Coach

4. Home energy
efficiency 101

5. Doing things in the
right order makes
life go smoothly
Home energy efficiency 101

6. Make a plan
Attic to basement:
• Develop a full plan of
renovations for the next 10 years
• Write your general goals down
• Plan to do things correctly, right
from the start

7. Make a plan
Energy goals could be:
• draft proof
• add insulation to
attic, main walls,
and/or basement
• replace doors
and windows
• replace furnace or
water heater
• add solar panels

8. Avoid scope creep
Think energy BEFORE you replace your:
• shingles,
• furnace,
• water heater,
• paint your house,
• add attic insulation,
• finish your basement,
• replace siding

9. Draftproofing
Include in every
renovation.
Make a continuous,
air tight, circle around
your home

10. Before replacing shingles
Think about
• Mounting solar panels
• Attic airtightness and ventilation
• Attic insulation.

11. Before adding attic insulation
Think about:
• Air seal.
• Ensure adequate attic ventilation.
• Replace knob and tube/aluminium wiring.
• Run additional cables (phone, cable, etc)

12. Before painting house
Insulate main wall cavities
(if uninsulated)

13. Before insulating main wall cavities
Replace any
wiring in
outside walls
that you wish

14. Before replacing siding
• Air seal from outside.
• Add rigid insulation
and window
extensions.
• Consider vented
wall assembly.

15. Before replacing water heater
• Consider air source heat
pump water heater.
• Consider instantaneous
water heater.

16. Before replacing furnace
• If furnace is naturally aspirated ,
replace naturally aspirated water
heater at the same time -
with electric or power-vented.
• Seal chimney off (airtightness).
• Or take chimney down below
roof-line and re-shingle.

17. Before finishing basement
CAUTION:
Large scope of
work ahead

18. Before finishing basement
Avoid moisture in
your basement

19. Before finishing basement
• Gas line for BBQ
• Drain for main floor clothes washer pan
• Run wires
• Run central vac piping
• Seal duct connections
• Install balancing valves in ductwork
• Replace galvanized water pipes
• Install outside hose bibs

20. Before finishing basement
• Sound-proof floors
• Strengthen floor joists and
sub-floor if planning tile floors
• Insulate floors if planning
heated floors
• Replace cross-bracing if removed
• Don't insulate over waterlines on
outside walls (move them)

21. REVIEW
• Plan your renovations far in advance.
• Do them in a logical order.
• Save money and aggravation.

22. Future Home Energy Coach presentations & open houses

23. Put our coach to work for you
To book an orientation
or a
home energy evaluation
Learn more
Use sign up sheet at the front!
Call 519-744-9799 > Press 1
Email customerservice@reepgreen.ca
reepgreen.ca/HomeEnergyCoach

24. Thank you to our core funders