{"id":85995,"date":"2024-04-01T15:42:11","date_gmt":"2024-04-01T19:42:11","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2024-07-24T13:42:54","modified_gmt":"2024-07-24T17:42:54","slug":"a-guide-to-improving-your-home-insulation-the-basics-of-building-envelopes-2","status":"publish","type":"rbc_my_money_matter","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/buying-a-home\/home-building-and-renovations\/a-guide-to-improving-your-home-insulation-the-basics-of-building-envelopes-2\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Improving Your Home Insulation: The Basics of Building Envelopes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-single-article-header\">\n\t<section class=\"section-grey cover pad-t-hlf\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-inner w-half w-mob-full centered-margin cover section-grey pad-tb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/home-ownership\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Home Ownership<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 mob-pad-lr-hlf h2 has-black-color\">A Guide to Improving Your Home Insulation: The Basics of Building Envelopes<\/h1><p class=\"mar-b-0 mob-pad-lr-hlf author-text\">By RBC<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-image-wrapper pos-rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/04\/The-attic-of-an-home-is-being-insulated-to-improve-its-energy-efficiency.jpg?quality=80\" class=\" cover-image  wp-post-image\" alt=\"An interior of an attic\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/04\/The-attic-of-an-home-is-being-insulated-to-improve-its-energy-efficiency.jpg 3500w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/04\/The-attic-of-an-home-is-being-insulated-to-improve-its-energy-efficiency.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/04\/The-attic-of-an-home-is-being-insulated-to-improve-its-energy-efficiency.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/04\/The-attic-of-an-home-is-being-insulated-to-improve-its-energy-efficiency.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/04\/The-attic-of-an-home-is-being-insulated-to-improve-its-energy-efficiency.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/04\/The-attic-of-an-home-is-being-insulated-to-improve-its-energy-efficiency.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\t<div class=\"article mar-t-dbl\">\n\t\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-inner socials-section\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-socials-bar mob-mar-b-hlf\">    <div class=\"social-links mob-mar-b-hlf mob-mar-t-hlf\">\n            <a class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-custom sharing-email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=A Guide to Improving Your Home Insulation: The Basics of Building Envelopes &#038;body=Hi, I thought you might be interested in this article from RBC My Money Matters: https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/buying-a-home\/home-building-and-renovations\/a-guide-to-improving-your-home-insulation-the-basics-of-building-envelopes-2\/\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-email.svg\"\n          alt=\"envelope icon\">\n        <span>\n          Email        <\/span>\n      <\/a>\n      <div class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-copy-wrapper\">\n        <button class=\"sharing-custom sharing-copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/buying-a-home\/home-building-and-renovations\/a-guide-to-improving-your-home-insulation-the-basics-of-building-envelopes-2\/\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-related.svg\"\n            alt=\"copy icon\">\n          <span id=\"sharing-copyUrl-Label\">\n            Copy URL          <\/span>\n        <\/button>\n        <input type=\"text\" class=\"sharing-copy-text\" aria-labelledby=\"sharing-copyUrl-Label\">\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-inner w-half w-mob-full centered-margin pad-tb-0 mob-mar-t-hlf mob-mar-b\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cover-pub-line text-xs mar-b-hlf\">Published April 1, 2024 \u2022 8 Min Read<\/p>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner w-half w-mob-full\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<p>Heating and cooling a home without good insulation and air sealing \u2014 also known as having a \u201cloose building envelope\u201d \u2014 is a bit like driving a car in the winter with the windows rolled down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine driving your car on a bracingly cold winter day. Instead of turning the heat up high and rolling the windows up, you let the freezing cold air flow right through your open windows as you zoom down the highway. Even the most powerful car heater won\u2019t stand a chance at keeping the car toasty \u2014 and you\u2019ll waste energy and money trying to stay warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ensuring your home has a sufficient building envelope is the first step to making your home more energy-efficient.<\/strong> In this article, you&#8217;ll learn how your home might be losing energy and increasing utility bills unnecessarily, and what you can do to improve it.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a building envelope?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/natural-resources.canada.ca\/energy-efficiency\/homes\/make-your-home-more-energy-efficient\/keeping-the-heat\/section-2-how-your-house-works\/15630\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-22e743be\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"building envelope\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">building envelope<\/a> is the surface of the house consisting of the crawlspace or basement structure and floor, the above-grade walls, windows, and doors, and the roof. Its purpose is to maintain the interior conditions and shield from the exterior environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A \u201ctight\u201d building envelope is energy-efficient, while a \u201cloose\u201d building envelope is inefficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many causes of a loose building envelope, including poor initial home design and selection of building materials. A home\u2019s age, how well it&#8217;s been maintained, and the quality of home improvements over time can also contribute to a loose building envelope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A home\u2019s building envelope has a significant impact on the efficiency and long-lasting comfort of the home.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is a building envelope important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Higher efficiency and lower utility costs are just two reasons a tight building envelope should be a priority. A tight building envelope can also improve living standards: Proper air sealing (like weatherstripping and caulking) can ensure <a href=\"https:\/\/natural-resources.canada.ca\/energy-efficiency\/homes\/make-your-home-more-energy-efficient\/keeping-the-heat\/section-4-comprehensive-air-leakage-control-your-home\/15635\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-4125adbf\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"healthier indoor air quality and prevent mould buildup\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">healthier indoor air quality and prevent mould buildup<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heating and cooling systems like furnaces, air conditioning or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/buying-a-home\/home-building-and-renovations\/the-2024-guide-to-choosing-the-right-heat-pump\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-c7a163d2\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"heat pumps\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">heat pumps<\/a> will need to work less hard to keep a well-insulated home at the desired temperature. When appliance efficiency increases, energy use goes down \u2014 which can also mean less money spent on bills. A tight building envelope can also make the power generated by renewable energy sources, like solar energy, go further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read more: <\/strong>Tips for consuming less energy at home, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and saving on utility bills.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What makes a good building envelope?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a basic principle to keep in mind when you consider steps to improve the efficiency of your home by tightening the building envelope: Heat <a href=\"https:\/\/natural-resources.canada.ca\/energy-efficiency\/homes\/make-your-home-more-energy-efficient\/keeping-the-heat\/section-2-how-your-house-works\/15630\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-b105473c\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"moves \" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">moves <\/a>when there is a difference in temperature. More specifically, heat moves from warm areas to cold areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of tightening your home\u2019s building envelope is to reduce the flow of hot air outside during the winter and prevent heat from coming inside during the summer. The ideal outcome: Efficient appliances and lower energy consumption and bills. Put simply, prioritizing a tight envelope means finding and fixing the potential causes of building envelope failure throughout your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here are three ways to tighten your home\u2019s building envelope:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Find the air leaks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since you know the components of a building envelope, the first step to tightening it is to pinpoint exactly where hot air is entering and leaving your home. You can start this task yourself: Focus on areas where different building materials come together. For example, cracks are common where a home\u2019s foundation and walls connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Air leaks are also common where a home\u2019s wood siding meets bricks in a wall or foundation. Other parts of the building envelope that should be investigated are the door and window frames, wooden floorboards, and the attic. If the eaves of your roof frequently have large icicles in the winter, that\u2019s a sign that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/buying-a-home\/7-ways-to-insulate-and-weatherproof-your-home-this-winter\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-51b6fd79\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"attic could be better insulated\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">attic could be better insulated<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/natural-resources.canada.ca\/energy-efficiency\/energuide\/energuide-energy-efficiency-home-evaluations\/20552\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-36919c50\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"EnerGuide advisor\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">EnerGuide advisor<\/a> can also conduct an evaluation of your home to identify areas where you can improve energy efficiency. The evaluation includes a blower door test to find air leaks. A blower door is a fan that lowers the air pressure inside a home. When that happens, high-pressure air from outside is drawn into the home through cracks and other parts of the building envelope that aren\u2019t sealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Plug the small leaks yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After you diagnose the specific places where your building envelope is allowing unwanted airflow, the next step is to plug the leaks. The best ways to do this will depend on where the leaks are, but there are many straightforward tasks you can do yourself. If you rent your home, you may find that these budget-friendly jobs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/buying-a-home\/home-building-and-renovations\/a-renters-guide-to-making-your-home-more-energy-efficient\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-3f06cd17\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"help to reduce your energy bills\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">help to reduce your energy bills<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you can feel the cold air rushing in at the bottom of your door, here are some things you can do:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Invest in or replace your draft stopper or door snake<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Install rubber tubing to prevent the flow of air through your wooden floorboards&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Implement a generous use of silicone caulk to prevent air flow around your windows<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Caulk any cracks you see on the exterior of the house to prevent both air and insects from invading your home<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>If you have a fireplace, use a flashlight to make sure the chimney damper fully closes&nbsp; \u2014 if not, contact a certified chimney specialist to fix it<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Use removable caulk to seal windows that you don&#8217;t use often&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Plan for bigger insulation and air-sealing projects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After you finish plugging as many air leaks as possible yourself, your home may still be able to benefit from large-scale projects like insulating a roof, walls, or floors or swapping out windows and doors. Especially handy homeowners may be able to complete some of these projects on their own while others may be better handled by professionals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you decide to take on these projects yourself or hire a professional, more ambitious retrofits demand planning. This can include investigating which projects qualify for financing under the <a href=\"https:\/\/natural-resources.canada.ca\/energy-efficiency\/homes\/canada-greener-homes-initiative\/canada-greener-homes-loan\/24286\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-3f43230b\" data-dig-label=\"Canada Greener Homes Loan\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">Canada Greener Homes Loan<\/a> and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/sustainable-finance-solutions\/home-energy-rebates.html\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-d56bc368\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"rebates\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">rebates<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Projects that qualify under the Canada Greener Homes Loan program include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adding insulation&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Basements can account for around <a href=\"https:\/\/natural-resources.canada.ca\/energy-efficiency\/homes\/make-your-home-more-energy-efficient\/keeping-the-heat\/section-6-basement-insulation-floors-walls-and-crawl-spaces\/15639\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-1a51b02c\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"20 percent\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">20 percent<\/a> of a home&#8217;s total heat loss. After an assessment of where heat is escaping under your home&nbsp; \u2014 which can be done by checking for dampness or searching for cracks&nbsp; \u2014 you can come up with a strategy to add heat-saving insulation on the inside or outside of the home, as well as decide if it&#8217;s a job you can handle or need to outsource to a pro. You can also conduct similar assessments of the adequacy (or inadequacy) of insulation in your roof, walls, and crawl space to identify opportunities to tighten your home&#8217;s envelope.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Replacing windows and doors&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Windows and doors can be even leakier than a basement, as they&#8217;re responsible for <a href=\"https:\/\/natural-resources.canada.ca\/energy-efficiency\/homes\/make-your-home-more-energy-efficient\/keeping-the-heat\/section-8-upgrading-windows-and-exterior-doors\/15643\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-9d5973e8\" data-dig-label=\"25 percent\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">25 percent<\/a> of a home&#8217;s heat loss. If you can&#8217;t repair them properly enough to plug the leaks, consider replacing windows with efficient <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/economics-101\/climate-change\/why-buy-energy-star-certified-appliances\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-0a5f090b\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"ENERGY STAR-certified\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">ENERGY STAR-certified<\/a> windows. Weatherstripping the top and sides of a door frame with vinyl tape can limit air leaks. But in some cases, a replacement may be worthwhile. Depending on the type of door, ENERGY STAR versions may be available. If you decide to hire a contractor, ask if they have experience doing similar door replacements and find out if they can offer a warranty on their work and the equipment they use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/sustainable-finance-solutions\/home-energy-rebates.html\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-4a64e997\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"Canada Greener Homes Initiative and find programs in your province\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">Canada Greener Homes Initiative and find programs in your province<\/a> that could help cover the costs of building envelope improvement plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What impact do our homes have on climate change?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Because a poorly insulated home is unable to keep cold air out in the winter and hot air out in the summer, it requires a lot of energy to stay comfortable. As we\u2019ve established, consuming large amounts of energy to run heaters, air conditioners, and heat pumps increases energy use. And if the energy used to keep homes warm or cool comes from fossil fuels, more concentrated levels of greenhouse gases are emitted, which contribute towards <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/environment-climate-change\/services\/climate-change\/causes.html\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-a61f2f3f\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"global warming and climate change\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">global warming and climate change<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The emphasis on improving building envelopes makes a lot of sense for Canadians. Indeed, Canada\u2019s 14.5 million homes are responsible for one-sixth of all the energy used in the country and produce almost <a href=\"https:\/\/natural-resources.canada.ca\/energy\/offices-labs\/canmet\/ottawa-research-centre\/the-built-environment\/building-envelope-systems\/23508\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-7eb245d4\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"14 percent\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">14 percent<\/a> of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/natural-resources.canada.ca\/energy\/offices-labs\/canmet\/ottawa-research-centre\/the-built-environment\/building-envelope-systems\/23508\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-85995-5eecf454\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"Two-thirds\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">Two-thirds<\/a> of homes in Canada were built before codes were in place, and your home could be one of them. By improving your home\u2019s building envelope, you could reduce energy bills and have a positive impact on the planet. Whether small or large, the changes you make can have significant effects, and what might seem like a huge undertaking could become more attainable with financial assistance from the government to help cover the costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbc-default-collapsible\"><p><button class=\"collapse-toggle collapsed\" data-target=\"#collapse834a1009\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse834a1009\" data-dig-id=\"LP-57738-834a1009\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"accordion closed\" action-closed=\"accordion closed\" action-opened=\"accordion open\" data-dig-label=\"Things our lawyers want you to know\"><span>Things our lawyers want you to know<\/span><span>Things our lawyers want you to know<\/span><\/button><\/p><div class=\"collapse-content collapse\" id=\"collapse834a1009\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-collapsible-inner-block collapse-inner\">\n<p>This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-1f6f5a77-e258-426f-8cbd-5935931a05b6\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center h5 mar-b\"><strong>Share This Article<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"socials-block\">\n\t\t\t    <div class=\"social-links mob-mar-b-hlf mob-mar-t-hlf\">\n            <a class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-custom sharing-email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=A Guide to Improving Your Home Insulation: The Basics of Building Envelopes &#038;body=Hi, I thought you might be interested in this article from RBC My Money Matters: https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/buying-a-home\/home-building-and-renovations\/a-guide-to-improving-your-home-insulation-the-basics-of-building-envelopes-2\/\">\n   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<\/div>\n  \t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-7c3214e6-6f3e-4dd3-b6d5-c960556c83fb\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-single-post-topics related-topics-links\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"h5 mar-r-hlf\">Topics:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/energy-efficiency\/\" class=\"btn topic mar-t-0 mar-r-qtr mar-b-hlf\">Energy-efficiency<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/home-ownership\/\" class=\"btn topic mar-t-0 mar-r-qtr mar-b-hlf\">Home Ownership<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/remodeling-your-home\/\" class=\"btn topic mar-t-0 mar-r-qtr mar-b-hlf\">Remodeling your Home<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel mob-pad-t-dbl\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div 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class=\"card-title h4 mar-t-0\">Actions to Help Protect Your Home from Extreme Weather Events [Infographics]<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<style class=\"advgb-styles-renderer\">\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-1f6f5a77-e258-426f-8cbd-5935931a05b6 {\n\t\theight: 96px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 480px ) {\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-1f6f5a77-e258-426f-8cbd-5935931a05b6 {\n\t\t\theight: 30px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-7c3214e6-6f3e-4dd3-b6d5-c960556c83fb {\n\t\theight: 60px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 480px ) {\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-7c3214e6-6f3e-4dd3-b6d5-c960556c83fb {\n\t\t\theight: 30px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The first step to making your home more energy-efficient is to improve its building envelope. Here\u2019s what you need to know to get started. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":85996,"parent":57286,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[561,57,146],"rbc_content_type":[31],"rbc_audience":[49],"rbc_lob_group":[50],"rbc_difficulty_level":[33],"rbc_mmm_category":[310,380,322,303,339,304],"class_list":["post-85995","rbc_my_money_matter","type-rbc_my_money_matter","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-energy-efficiency","tag-home-ownership","tag-remodeling-your-home","rbc_content_type-article","rbc_audience-students","rbc_lob_group-students","rbc_difficulty_level-beginner","rbc_mmm_category-buying-a-home","rbc_mmm_category-climate-change","rbc_mmm_category-economics-101","rbc_mmm_category-goals-aspirations","rbc_mmm_category-home-building-and-renovations","rbc_mmm_category-money-academy"],"acf":{"contently_publication_id":"","custom_author":"RBC","rbc_video_header":"","rbc_media_duration":"","rbc_video_keywords":"","rbc_video_description":"","rbc_video_upload_date":"","rbc_toc_for_mmm_tag":"h2","rbc_toc_for_mmm_limit":6,"rbc_toc_for_mmm":null,"rbc_toc_for_mmm_action":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The first step to making your home more energy-efficient is to improve your its building envelope. 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