A whole home approach to energy efficiency

(BPT) - A spike in home energy bills often leads consumers to suspect a problem with their heating or cooling equipment. However, before assuming faulty equipment is the cause of high energy bills, it's a good idea to consider other potential culprits that can reduce energy efficiency and lead to costlier heating and cooling bills. Some areas within a home can allow heated or cooled air to escape before it enters the desired room. The attic is a good example of a space where undetected issues can reduce comfort, adversely affect air quality and decrease energy efficiency.

Signs of thermal problems in the attic may be visible from a home's exterior. During cooler seasons, heated air escaping from a home's attic may pass through the roof deck, melting snow or frost. If nearby homes' roofs are covered in snow or frost while your home's roof is bare, this may be a sign of attic heat loss.