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Home energy efficiency is a complex topic that affects our energy bills, comfort, and indoor air quality. As leaders of residential energy conservation in Northern Virginia and Metro DC, The Fifth Fuel team is dedicated to educating home and business owners about building science concepts and how these concepts influence our built environment. For example, homeowners commonly think their heating and cooling system isn’t performing properly, when in reality, a home performance issue is causing uneven home temperatures.

Our blog is designed to provide useful information that can be applied to gaining an understanding of home energy efficiency, helping our customers to make informed choices about energy-saving home improvements including insulationair sealing, and crawlspace encapsulation.

Would you like a free estimate on a home energy upgrade? Call The Fifth Fuel today to get started!

Home efficiency news, company announcements, and more!

Our blog is your go-to for the latest news.

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Homeowners relaxing on couch

Enjoy Your Coolest Summer Yet with Insulation and Air Sealing

Home insulation and proper air sealing can make a large difference in how comfortable your home is this summer. When Manassas, VA heats up, you want to know that heat is going to stay outside so your air conditioner can keep you cool. The Fifth Fuel has the expertise you need to stay comfortable.
Energy Efficiency in home

Why Choose an Energy Audit?

If you’re experiencing discomfort or high energy bills in your Manassas, Virginia, or Metro DC area home, you’ve probably been wondering how you can increase your home’s comfort and lower those bills. We strongly suggest that you start with a home energy audit.
Woman in front of fan on hot day

Can’t Sleep Because Your Upstairs is Too Hot? Fix It!

The nights are continuing to get warmer and if your bedroom is upstairs, you may have already experienced trouble sleeping due to the heat. Maybe you’re trying to get comfortable by blasting the air conditioner, shedding layers, or using multiple fans, but what if there was a way to solve the problem for good?How Heat Moves Throughout Your HomeIt’s first important to understand why heat gathers in your home’s upstairs rooms. Heat travels through radiation, conduction, and convection.
Man resting on a couch at home

Tricks to Stay Cool Without Using Air Conditioning

The weather is heating up here in Manassas and the DC metropolitan area, and for many homeowners, this means running an air conditioner constantly. When temperatures climb into the 90s and above, living and working in an environment that’s difficult to cool can be uncomfortable to say the least.
Tree blooming in spring outside building

Quick Ways to Improve Your Home’s Efficiency

Homeowners in the DC metro area are rejoicing in the fact that the winter weather is almost gone. Most of us look forward to spending more time outside and ditching those extra layers, but now is also the perfect time to focus on improving your home’s energy efficiency. The problem? Most homeowners don’t know where to start.
Icicles hanging from roof

Stopping Ice Dams Before They Start

The holidays are right around the corner, which means now’s the time to prepare should we end up experiencing a rough winter. One of the biggest headaches associated with home performance in the winter is that of ice dams, and Virginia isn’t exactly in the clear the way most of us would like to think it is.Christmas lists and meal planning may be on your mind right now, but you owe it to yourself to do everything possible to keep ice dams at bay this winter, and the team at The Fifth Fuel is here to help.
Tiny house wrapped in sweater and hat

Preventing Cold Spots or Rooms in Your Home

Fall is in full swing, and many homeowners living in and around Manassas, VA are beginning to notice cold spots popping up once again. Summer often hides these issues, but once temperatures begin to fall, cold spots make themselves known in short order. It’s easy to assume that the problem is due to a faulty HVAC system, but this is typically not the case at all.More often than not, cold spots or even entire rooms that are difficult to keep warm are the direct result of a leaky building envelope.
Family warming hands over electric heater

Inconsistent Temperatures in Your Home?

Fall is in full swing, and many homeowners living in and around Manassas, VA are beginning to notice cold spots popping up once again. Summer often hides these issues, but once temperatures begin to fall, cold spots make themselves known in short order. It’s easy to assume that the problem is due to a faulty HVAC system, but this is typically not the case at all.More often than not, cold spots or even entire rooms that are difficult to keep warm are the direct result of a leaky building envelope.
Magnifying lens looking at home

Where to Insulate Your Home

No matter what time of the year it is, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better solution to enhancing home comfort and energy efficiency than by focusing on insulation. It’s often assumed that insulation is most effective during the winter months, but it acts the same way during the summer, keeping conditioned air inside and outside air from entering the home.
Peaceful suburban street

The Key to a Comfortable Home This Summer

Take a walk outside, and there’s no doubt that temps here in the Northern Virginia area are rising steadily with each passing day. This has many homeowners doing whatever they can to keep their conditioned living spaces cool this summer, which can be easier said than done. At The Fifth Fuel, we believe that the key to a comfortable, efficient home is a properly sealed building envelope supported by the right amount of insulation.Think insulation is only for the winter months? Think again.

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