One of the easiest home improvement projects to produce energy savings is through insulation, precisely attic insulation. An insulation top-up for the attic can reward the homeowner yearly with savings on the home’s heating and cooling costs through reduced energy use.
Experts have told us that a home’s heat loss is directly related to poor attic insulation and 40% of the costs are going right through the roof. The costs of an insulation top-up will be recovered within two years of the installation and will carry forward over the time you own your home. When you moved into your home some years ago it was probably insulated, but over time, as building codes have changed, you have discovered that the insulation in your attic may not be up to a minimum of R-30, or the materials used have become obsolete. In that case, an insulation top-up is recommended to increase the R-value and to boost the R-value of the older insulation. If the insulation you have in your attic is ‘old,’ it may have settled some, reducing the R-value because it isn’t stopping heat transfer as well as it can. The air pockets have become compressed and the insulating efficiency that the pockets provided is no longer viable. An insulation top-up can help re-invigorate the settled insulation by providing new pockets of air that will combine with the old insulation that is still functional to provide optimal thermal efficiency.
Considerations for an insulation top-up
For best results for an attic insulation top up, contact a professional who has the expertise to install the insulation and the wherewithal to calculate how much insulation you will need. Remember, when installing attic insulation, more is always better, as the cost savings you achieve will be directly proportionate to the amount of insulation you have installed. A couple of factors that will influence your decision will come from the area you live in and the lifestyle you lead. If you live in an exceptionally cold area, the needs for your insulation will be greater. If you are someone who likes to walk around in Bermuda shorts in the winter, you will need more insulation than someone who will pull on a sweater when temperatures drop. Improving the density of your attic insulation will help reduce your fossil fuel consumption, limit your greenhouse gas emissions and reduce your carbon footprint, all of which is beneficial for the environment.
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