Looking for a cost-effective way to save energy and reduce cooling and
heating costs? Look no further than your home’s insulation. A well-insulated
home is one of the most effective ways to save on your energy usage, while also
improving your home’s thermal and acoustical comfort.
The Benefits of Insulation
A well-insulated home has sufficient insulation in walls and ceilings to
resist the flow of heat. Heat is energy that is continually moving and seeking
a cooler area. In the summer, heat tends to flow into your home and in winter
it tends to flow out of your home. By reducing the transfer of heat, a
well-insulated home uses less energy for cooling in the summer and less energy
for heating in the winter.
Another benefit of a well-insulated home is enhanced comfort. By reducing
the transfer of heat into the living space, drafts and hot spots are virtually
eliminated. In addition, insulation reduces sound transmission. Adding
insulation can curb the noise of children from room to room or outside, or
sounds of the air conditioning equipment located in the attic.
Insulation Ratings
Insulation materials are rated in terms of their R-Value, which is their
ability to resist the transfer of heat. The higher the R-Value, the more
effective the insulation. We recommend R-30 in flat attic areas and R-22 in
kneewalls/hot walls (walls with conditioned space on one side and attic space
on the other side). Generally, wall areas are insulated with far less
insulation than attic areas. Attic insulation will be subjected to more
temperature extremes and requires additional insulation.
What You Can Do Now
Adding insulation to your attic may be the most cost-effective insulation
upgrade. The project can pay for itself in as little as two years in reduced
energy costs.
We generally don’t recommend retrofitting exterior wall insulation, because
the payback can be delayed for many years. The exception to this is new home
construction, where insulation with at least an R-15 rating is recommended in
the exterior wall cavity.
The two types of insulation materials you can use for your attic are batt
form (cotton or fiberglass batts) or loose insulation (types include cellulose,
fiberglass, rock-wool and cotton). Cellulose is recycled newsprint treated with
a fire retardant. Fiberglass is thin fibers of glass that trap air.
Batt insulation should be used in knee walls to protect the side of the wall
that has conditioned space. Blown-in or loose-fill insulation should be
installed in uniform thickness across the entire ceiling surface area of the
attic.
Do-it-Yourself Versus Hire a Pro
Installing batts and rolls in attics is fairly easy, but doing it right is
very important.Make sure the insulation you install is tightly sealed, and
follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you decide on loose-fill fiberglass or cellulose, consider hiring a pro
to install the material. The equipment the pros use blows in material at the
correct density. If you decide to install loose insulation yourself, always
refer to the manufacturer’s instructions, especially regarding minimum
thickness and minimum weight per square foot to achieve the desired
R-Value.
