Although we do share a windy reputation with Chicago, we certainly don't share temperature characteristics or climate with this city. And although we share some climate similarities with Houston, we are not in Houston either. Nor are we in Los Angeles or even Atlanta.

When remodeling your home for energy efficiency or hiring someone to do it,  an important part is paying attention to the climate where your home is located.

The confusion and wasting of money start when homeowners, and even remodeling professionals, read an article written for other climate areas, then their North Texas home with changes suitable for another climate. 

For example, R-factor is very important in Chicago or Boston. Yet  R-factor, a measure of a substance's insulating value or resistance to heat flow, is not particularly important in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin or Houston.

Yet you often hear remodeling professionals talk about increasing the R-value of insulation in DFW or replacing windows to increase the R-value of a North Texas wall.

That is why it is important to remodel with a contractor who understands the ramifications of climate differences.