Five Ways To Weatherize Your Home In Ramsey County

Press release from Ramsey County Government:

November 1, 2021

As the cooler months settle in, consider these relatively cost-effective ways to weatherize your home. Weatherizing helps a home maintain temperature, conserve energy and save money on energy bills.

Request a free virtual consultation with a Home Energy Squad technician through Xcel Energy to help you understand opportunities to save energy and money on utility bills. After the consult, they can deliver a free, customized kit of energy-saving items for DIY installation.

Since hot air rises, a lot of heat escapes through attics. Installing insulation in the attic can help keep heat inside your home. Even if your attic has some insulation, you might be able to add more. Learn how to install attic insulation here.

A great option for renters, installing plastic film insulation is an affordable way to combat drafty (especially single-pane) windows. It takes a bit of finesse, but it really makes a difference.

Before the weather turns especially frigid, use caulk or weather stripping to seal gaps around windows and doors (learn how). You can also put fabric or plastic sealers along the bottom of doors to prevent cold air from coming through.

Did you know cold air can seep through outlets and light switches located on exterior walls? Add foam gaskets (like this one) to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.

Ask your landlord or property manager about opportunities to weatherize your unit. Encourage them to make energy efficiency improvements to the entire building. The Multi-Family Building Efficiency program, offered by Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, offers low- to no-cost assistance for qualifying multi-family properties.

Visit ramseycounty.us/EnergyAssistance for information, like:

Want to learn more about making your home more energy efficient? Use the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Home Energy Guide.

This article is featured in Green Ramsey, an environmental health newsletter from Ramsey County.

Learn more about and subscribe to Green Ramsey.

This press release was produced by Ramsey County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.