A home’s style can contribute to it’s overall energy efficiency … or inefficiency

A home’s style can contribute to it’s overall energy efficiency … or inefficiency Image

Colonial, split level, ranch, cape. These are just some of the popular housing styles you’ll find around Western New York. But do you know which one of these styles is typically least energy efficient?

If you guessed the Cape Cod style, you’re correct! And if you’re currently living in a Cape Cod, don’t lose hope as there are many ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

During warmer months, Cape Cod homes are notorious for being very hot upstairs due to a lack of insulation or incorrectly installed insulation. An under-insulated or improperly insulated cape is quite possibly the most inefficient home on the market. This is due to the upper sloped ceilings and the exposed knee wall crawls collecting heat in the summertime. Without a proper insulation barrier, the heat transfers easily to the upper floor of the home. These issues can be easily resolved by installing a proper insulation barrier and proper ventilation.

“There are several ways to set up an insulation barrier in a Cape Cod-style home,” said Nick Cappelli, co-owner of Prime Time Energy Services in Depew. “Additionally, every homeowners’ needs and wants are different. We recommend either making the crawl spaces a conditioned space within the building envelope, or to make it an unconditioned space outside the envelope. If an unconditioned space is what fits your family best, proper ventilation needs to be present in order to exhaust the summertime heat buildup. Otherwise, the home will experience a drastic reduction in the lifespan of the roofing shingles. In many cases the heat buildup will actually deteriorate the shingles and cause them to fail within 10 years.”

There are many instances where insulating the home is a far better choice than installing air conditioning. This is usually a smarter approach since the benefits will be realized not only in the summer, but also during the winter months.

Prime Time Energy Services is located at 67 Sheldon Ave., Depew. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, please contact Prime Time owners Jim Stroehlein or Nick Cappelli at 685-4331 or email [email protected] today.You can also visit www.primetime-energy.com, or follow Prime Time Energy Services on Facebook for frequent updates.

  • Primetime completed our attic crawl-space insulation exactly as they described. The work crew was on-time to the minute and worked the entire day. They were very professional and explained everything they did. The crew cleaned up everything before they left. I highly recommend Primetime Insulation services.

    Laurie Ann Mertens

  • All the people I dealt with at Prime Time were top notch professionals. They kept me updated on time frames, cleaned up everything and were considerate, courteous and friendly. Was a pleasure to deal with Kristen, Jim and the crew.

    Johnnie C.

  • Primetime has done 2 jobs for us this year and we're pleased with both. Their pricing is fair, they are professional with their work, they clean up when done, and the units work great!

    Susan Redenbach

  • Wow, the roof looks amazing! Your crew is one of the most professional I have encountered. I can’t wait until the insulation crew gets here.

    Jean Young

  • I am so appreciative for what your guys have done for me. The quality of my home has been increased with my new furnace.

    Henry Carter

  • The icicles on my roof were over three feet in previous years. Your team has resolved my icing issues AND saved me a ton on my gas bills! I will always recommend your services and will be calling you when I have my next up and coming project.

    Chris Turchiarelli

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