Insulation Basics

It may not be as “sexy” as installing a new kitchen or investing in a high-tech HVAC system, but if you want one of the best bang-for-the-buck ways to add value to your Massachusetts home (or to save money on your home energy bill), look no further than adding insulation to your attic.

According to Remodeling.com, an investment in insulation for your attic will recoup an average of 86.1 percent of its investment in a New England home – more than any other single home improvement investment measured by the website.

But what kind of insulation should you add, and how much? To answer these questions and more, let’s take a look at some home insulation basics.

Insulation 101

• Insulation can be made of any number of materials, with categories ranging from batts and rolls to spray-in foam and concrete block. Check out this DOE link for a comprehensive listing of insulating types.
• A home should be insulated anywhere where heated or cooled air may encounter outdoor air or an unconditioned space. Some key areas to insulate include the attic, duct system, exterior walls, any interior wall that is next to an unconditioned space, foundations, floors with cold spaces below (such as a crawl space or unheated garage), and ceilings with cold spaces above (such as an attic). To learn more about places to insulate your home, see this graphic.
• An R-value measures the resistance of heat flow through the insulation; the higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation is. The R-value is depends on the type of insulation material, its thickness, and its density, along with where and how the insulation is installed. Choosing the right type and amount of insulation for your home depends on factors ranging from the location of your home to the type of heating system you use. Here’s a guide to recommended R-values by region, courtesy of energystar.gov.
• If you want to add insulation to an existing home, you need to find out where, how much, and what type of insulation is already in place. There are a few hopeful videos online (here’s one from EnergyStar on checking your attic’s insulation), but by far the best way to do it is to get a professional home energy audit.

Of course, improving insulation alone won’t help you get the most from your home heating and cooling systems – you also need high efficiency, high performance heating and cooling equipment that is properly matched to your home, installed correctly, and regularly maintained by a professional.

But all other things considered, insulation will go a long way to helping you spend less to feel more comfortable…and isn’t that what we’re all after?

For more energy tips, visit our blog regularly – or contact us for great solutions to your efficiency challenges – including super efficient, money saving boilers and furnaces!