Reduce Energy Use at Home With This One Tip

Want to know one of the best bang for the buck ways to save energy in your Maine home? Look up – as in, up in your attic.

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

The question is what kind and amount of insulation should you add, and where should you put it? Let’s look at some home insulation basics.

Insulation basics

1. What is an R-Value?
   An R-value measures how effectively insulation resists the flow of heat; the higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation is. The material, thickness, and density of insulation affect its R-value, along with where and how the insulation is installed.
2. What types of insulation are there?
   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.
3. Where are the best places to put insulation?
   A home should be insulated anywhere where conditioned (heated or cooled) air encounters unconditioned space. Some key areas to insulate include the attic, duct system, exterior walls, interior walls, floors and ceilings. To learn more about places to insulate your home, see this graphic.
4. How much insulation does my home need?
   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’re using. The Insulation Institute has a handy R-Value reference that includes recommendations for all areas of Maine homes.
5. How do I add to my existing insulation in my home?
   The first step when adding insulation to an existing home is 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 to look at your home.

Looking for more ways to make your home more energy efficient next winter and beyond? We can help! Contact us today to learn more about expert installation of high-efficiency furnaces, boilers and water heaters, plus maintenance service for all your heating oil and propane equipment!