 |
Attic Insulation
|
QuickTime
WindowsMedia
 Only about one-fifth of homes built before 1980 are well insulated. Is yours? To get an idea of what insulation could do for your comfort, your pocketbook, and the climate crisis, consider what it's already doing: without existing residential insulation U.S. carbon dioxide emissions would increase 15%. That's 1.35 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide, and it would take a forest of 300 million acres, equivalent to all of our harvested cropland, to take it back up. The savings for existing insulation are nearly $84 billion in avoided heating and cooling costs per year! So while insulation requires up front costs, it's also one of the most rewarding, and long-lasting, cost savings and climate benefits. The industry has calculated that if all U.S. homes met just the insulation standards in the Model Energy Code from 1992, total residential carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. would fall nearly 30%. Insulation even helps with creature comfort, making it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Combined with a good house sealing effort it can also reduce persistent moisture-related problems such as floor squeaks, drywall cracks, and condensation damage. The most cost-effective solution really depends on your house -- how much insulation you have already and how it's heated and cooled -- as well as your local climate. Insulation impact is measured according to its R-value. The R-value can range quite a bit; the higher the number, the better insulated your home will be. Different parts of the country and different parts of your home require insulation with different R-values. In general, ceilings (with attic or cathedral pitches) call for R-49 in most of the US, walls should be R-13 to R-18, basement interiors should be R-11 to R-19, and exteriors should be R-10 to R-15. To learn more about what's best for your situation check out this Department of Energy map and fact sheet. |