Insulation is the best financial investment you can make! Some will say you reach the point of dimishing returns, at which point is is no longer advantageous to add insulation. We do not subscribe to this notion.
No matter how much insulation you install, you only do it once, and pay for it once. That is not the case with energy to heat and cool your home; you continue buying it, and paying for it as long as you live in your home! In addition, the price of energy keeps on rising every day, week, month and year; year after year after year! It doesn’t take long to realize that the cost of energy very quickly exceeds the cost of insulating and tightening up your home. After that, you earn returns on your insulating and tightening investment every day, week, month and year as long as you live in your home. And, if and when it comes time to sell your home, it is worth more, will sell more quickly, and you are more likely to get your asking price!
Where to Start
First, check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the minimum levels recommended for your area. Insulation is measured in R-values—the higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will resist the transfer of heat. DOE recommends minimum ranges of R-values based on local heating and cooling costs and climate conditions in different areas of the nation. The map and chart below show the DOE minimum recommendations for your area. For more customized insulation recommendations, check out the Zip Code Insulation Calculator.
Four Basic Types of Insulation
- Rolls and batts—or blankets—are flexible products made from mineral fibers, such as fiberglass and rock wool. They are available in widths suited to standard spacings of wall studs and attic or floor joists: 2×4 walls can hold R-13 or R-15 batts; 2×6 walls can have R-19 or R-21 products.
- Loose-fill insulation—usually made of cellulose. The blown-in material conforms readily to building cavities and attics. Therefore, loose-fill insulation is well suited for places where it is difficult to install other types of insulation.
- Rigid foam insulation—foam insulation typically is more expensive than fiber insulation. But it’s very effective in buildings with space limitations and where higher R-values are desired. Foam insulation R-values range from R-4 to R-6.5 per inch of thickness (2.54 cm), which is up to twice the R-value of most other insulating materials of the same thickness.
- Spray Foam insulation—can be sprayed into walls, roofs, and other areas, and is the best insulation available for a number of reasons.
- It has a very high R-value, (up to 6.5 per inch if closed cell foam).
- It effectively reduces air infiltration to zero wherever it is used.
- It eliminates moisture migrating into walls from the moist air in the home.
- It makes it very difficult for moisture to get in from the outside as well.
- It makes for a stronger structure.
via High Performance Insulation Can Be Your Best Energy Investment.
