Week 6: Extra-strength insulation in the wall and attic
Have you bothered to look around your attic space to see if all areas contain insulation? Even a small area with limited or no insulation — or even insulation that has been damaged or compressed — can significantly decrease overall effectiveness. The U.S. Department of Energy says that adding insulation to the attic is relatively easy and very cost effective.
To find out if you have enough attic insulation, measure the thickness of the insulation. If it is less than R-22 (7 inches of fiber glass or rock wool or 6 inches of cellulose), you could probably benefit by adding more. A. homes should have between R-22 and R-49 insulation in the attic.
Increasing the amount and R-Value (the measure of thermal resistance) of insulation is a cost-effective way to save energy and help reduce heating and cooling bills, which account for at least half of the energy-use in the home. Sprayed insulation made of foam, cellulose or wool are alternatives to traditional glass fiber batting.
An “energy audit” may cost you anywhere from $150 to $350, according to McClure, but you can recoup the cost of the inspection in about a year by implementing the recommendations the audits can provide. Go to PATH (http://www.pathnet.org/) for a list of inspectors in your area.
