From Liisa O'Neill, Department of Energy, Office of Public Affairs:

Who knew leaks could be costing Americans $5 billion every year? And that's not water leaks—it's leaks you can't even see. Typical air duct systems, both residential and commercial, typically lose 25-40 percent of heating and cooling energy, accounting for billions added to utility bills.

But what if there was a simple mist that could seal thousands of leaks in 4 to 8 hours, saving a home owner on average $600 to $850 a year on his or her heating and cooling costs? Thanks to a breakthrough technology developed at the Energy Department's Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, such technology exists. Aeroseal LLC, a start-up that licensed the technology, has now made the technology available to thousands of home owners and business owners concerned with high utility bills and sustainable living.