Tiny Drafts, Big Impact: Insulate Your Outlets
Tiny Drafts, Big Impact: Insulate Your Outlets
by Hilary Quinn,
Senior Program Manager
Sierra Region
Even small gaps can let in big drafts. Outlet insulators help seal those overlooked openings behind wall plates to keep homes warmer and more efficient. This simple, low-cost fix (included in NREN’s free Energy Efficiency Kits) adds an extra layer of protection to your home’s building envelope.
Weatherization Tip: Don’t Forget Your Outlets
When people think about weatherization, they usually imagine big fixes such as insulating the attic, sealing doors, or upgrading windows. But one of the smallest steps can make a big difference: outlet insulators.
Outlet insulators, wait. What are those?
Outlet insulators are small foam gaskets that fit behind electrical outlets and light switch plates to help block drafts and keep a home warmer. Think about how many electrical outlets sit on a home’s exterior walls. Each one is essentially a tiny opening to the outside; a place where cold air can slip through. Imagine if you had a hole in the wall with a thin piece of paperboard covering it. That’s basically what an insulated outlet is. By adding a simple outlet insulator (included in NREN’s free Energy Efficiency Kits), residents can add an extra layer of protection in these overlooked, vulnerable spots. It’s a small step, but it helps keep you warmer, reduces drafts and makes your building envelope more snug.
Sometimes, weatherization isn’t about the big projects. It’s about the little gaps we overlook. Fortunately, this is one of the easiest issues to tend to at home.
About the Northern Rural Energy Network:
Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) offers energy efficiency programs to rural communities, delivering cost savings and strengthening community resilience for the North Coast and the Sierra Nevada. More information on NREN’s services can be found at NorthernREN.org.