Where in Your Home to Insulate

This summer, save on your power bills and be more comfortable by insulating your home properly. The U.S. Department of Energy issued a study with the great chart below. Here are the highlights:

• Attic. Have you ever wondered why attics, even finished attics, are so hot? This heat comes from both your roof (which is exposed to the sun) and the hot air rising from the rest of your home. Air conditioning systems have a hard time carrying this much load and they use a great deal of energy. Save money in the long run by getting an energy audit to see where your attic is inefficient. Also, install attic air barriers such as wind baffles along the entire attic eave to help ensure proper airflow.
• Walls. Minimize exterior wall leaks by taping the joints of exterior sheathing and caulking and sealing exterior walls. Use higher R-value insulation on exterior walls.
• Floors. Insulating a floor helps prevent drafts and helps keep heat in. Rigid insulation is one way to insulate a floor.
• Basement. A great deal of energy can be lost from a drafty basement, and insulating a basement helps make it more livable. Read here for more info.
• Crawlspace. In conjunction with air sealing, insulating a crawl space can save on energy costs. How to insulate a crawl space depends on whether it is ventilated or not. Read here for more info.