Be Green & Save Green: How to Cut Heating & Cooling Bills

April is Earth Month and the kick-off to the busy building and renovation season. There is no better time to evaluate the energy efficiency of your home or home project. When building a new home, or repairing and renovating your current home, one simple decision may dramatically reduce annual heating and cooling costs, saving you money.

You have likely heard of numerous building products that increase energy efficiency, but are you aware of the one that provides you with significant energy savings? It is selecting the correct weather resistive barrier, an integral part of any residential building project. Not only does the correct weather resistive barrier protect your home from damage caused by air and water, it may also contribute to significant energy savings. For many years, mechanically-attached house wraps have been the standard with very few alternatives. However, GCP Applied Technologies, formerly Grace Construction Products, has introduced Vycor® enV- S™, a self-adhered weather resistive barrier that provides premium weather protection and is an advanced alternative to house wraps. The weather resistive barrier represents the latest in residential building science to create an air-tight, yet breathable home, and achieve the highest product performance available.

Vycor® enV-S™ will protect your home, wallet and Mother Earth. Unlike mechanically-attached house wraps, Vycor® enV-S™ seals to itself, seals around fasteners, and forms a strong adhesion with the substrate, even when exposed to harsh weather conditions, eliminating costly rework. And, most importantly, Vycor® enV-S™ improves the home's energy efficiency, leading to significant energy savings for the homeowner.

A recent study conducted by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) revealed that Vycor® enV-S™ achieved an air leakage rate seven times lower than the leading house wrap brand.

A reduced rate of air leakage translates to lower annual heating and cooling costs—an important benefit that homeowners will surely value and appreciate. As an example, in the northernmost area of the United States, the savings are estimated at $669 annually (or 56.2% energy savings) for a typical home installed with Vycor® enV-S™ compared to one with a traditional house wrap. Visit here to view an interactive map that illustrates the findings from ORNL's research and highlights the energy savings potential in all climate regions across the country.

It is easy being green. Don’t just build your home, build it right. With Vycor® enV-S™ weather protection system you will protect your home, preserve our earth and save money.