Most of the time, when you see articles or blog posts about home insulation, the focus is on keeping your home warm in the winter. But insulation is a 365-day-a-year tool when it comes to keeping your home energy efficient. And that includes the summer, too!
Properly insulating your attic can also help make your home’s air conditioning system operate more efficiently. It won’t have to run as much, or as hard, to keep your home cool and comfortable at the desired lower temperatures. That saves you big on energy bills, especially when you consider that heating and cooling make up about half of your home’s energy costs.
Adding insulation to your attic not only makes your home more energy-efficient, it’s also a great investment as you may recoup 80% (or more!) of your investment when it comes to adding to your home’s value.
Liking what you see? Before you get started, you have some research to do:
While the fiberglass insulation that comes in rolls at the home improvement store is likely what you first think of when it comes to insulation, it is not the only option. In fact, it is one of many different kinds of insulation. Those options include rigid foam, loose blown-in insulation, spray foam, and structural insulated panels. Some insulation can be an easy do-it-yourself installation; others may need to be professionally installed. Check out this guide from the U.S. Department of Energy for more details.
The R-value of your insulation measures the resistance of heat flow through the insulation. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation is. The R-value you need depends on where you live, as this map from the Department of Energy shows. Here in the Hudson Valley, depending on where you live, you are either in Zone 5 or Zone 6. That means if your attic is uninsulated, the insulation you install needs to have an R-value of R49 to R60. If you have an existing 3 to 4 inches of insulation, you need to add insulation with an R-value of R38 to R49.
When you’re situated with insulation, Depew Energy can help you save even more by installing energy-efficient heating, cooling, and water heating equipment to keep your home at peak comfort year-round. Contact us today to learn more!