HOW IS THE HOUSE ORIENTED & LANDSCAPED?
A home's landscaping and orientation toward the sun affect your comfort in both summer and winter, as well as the amount of energy you'll use. A house that is designed to take advantage of the sun for winter heating without overheating in the summer is ideal. South-facing glass admits the sun's warmth in winter months.
Because the sun is angled higher in the summer, overhangs or awnings will block hot summer sun from coming in southern windows. Tile, brick or concrete on sunlit floors or walls can store heat while the sun shines and release it during cooler hours. Deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves in winter) on east and west sides will provide sun-blocking shade in the summer. Position evergreen trees and hedgerows to block prevailing winds.

IS THERE PEELING PAINT?
Peeling paint on the outside of a house can be caused by a variety of factors. It may simply be that it's once again time to paint the house, or it could be that there is insufficient drainage for rainwater. Peeling also may be caused by excessive moisture movement through an exterior wall. This can be the result of rain being driven behind the siding, excessive indoor moisture from an area such as an unventilated bathroom, or an unbalanced forced-air distribution system.

DO YOU SEE ICICLES, SNOWMELT, OR ICE DAMS ON THE ROOF?
Icicles may look quaint, but they are a sign of heat escaping your attic and possibly other problems with the house, including attic moisture, roof degradation, and interior leaks and water damage. And when icicles break off, they're a hazard to anyone standing below.

In the winter, take a look at the outside of the house to see if there are any icicles or spots where the snow has melted on the roof. In the summer, look for damage that could have been caused by icicles or ice dams, such as broken gutters, damaged shingles along the bottom of the roof, and mold on the inside of the attic or on the roof.
To reduce or eliminate such problems, it is critical for ceilings at the top story of the house to be adequately insulated and have effective air sealing on the warm side of the insulation. This ensures effective air leakage control so that warm air from living spaces isn't leaking to the attic. Proper attic ventilation can reduce some of the icing problems but does not address the root cause of the excessive heat loss. Refer to page 10 for some tips on identifying and stopping air leakage from living spaces into the attic.