Tightly sealed, energy efficient garages are great for maintaining the energy savings you’ve worked so hard to realize throughout the rest of your home, as well as for improving your indoor air quality. Here’s how to green your garage.
1. Close off Carbon Monoxide
One of the simplest things you can do to green your garage may also be the most important. Carbon monoxide, as well as several other household chemicals often stored in garages, can be huge health problems. Keeping those chemicals out of your home is paramount.
If you have ductwork running through the garage and carrying forced air into your home, check to make sure all of the joints are properly sealed. If not, they could be transporting chemicals and fumes directly into your home, contributing to poor indoor air quality. Sealing off those joints also improves energy efficiency, as a lot of cold air travels in and out of your ductwork.
2. Seal the Garage
The best way to save money on energy bills is to ensure that your house is properly sealed and insulated—and the same goes for garages. By ensuring the doors and windows are properly sealed and that the garage is amply insulated, you can keep your garage at a more comfortable temperature with lower energy use.
These products will help tremendously:
- Fiberglass duct wrap on the inside of the garage door and around pipes and ducts
- Weather stripping around the doors
- Floor insulation over cold concrete slabs or other unheated areas
3. Install an Exhaust Fan
This tip is one of the easiest. Install a fan in the garage, and those toxins will be pushed right outside, where they can be dispersed effectively. We highly recommend this one.
4. Buy a Water Heater Jacket
If the garage is where your hot water heater is located, and you don’t have a heating system in the garage, consider buying your appliance a parka. Insulated jackets are simple to install and can help keep water heaters working more efficiently in cold weather.
5. Watch for Webs
One simple way to check your garage for air leaks is to look for spider webs. Rumor has it that the little ladies with eight legs like drafty spots, so if you spot a web, you might have found an area that needs a little extra weather stripping, sealant or insulation.