Most Energy Efficient Attic Insulation

Rigid foam boards trap air or another gas to resist conductive heat flow.

Most energy efficient attic insulation.

The four step approach outlined below considers the whole attic as a system. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. See more on different types of insulation. The attic is the easiest place to add insulation to improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home.

Now that you ve air sealed your attic and basement check your attic insulation levels and add more if necessary. Measure your attic s square footage. See a state by state directory of such programs here. So when it comes time to add or improve insulation in your house look for the one that has the most appropriate r value that works best for your.

Loose fill insulation is usually less expensive to install than batt insulation and provides better coverage when installed properly. Insulation level are specified by r value. Depending on your geographic location the size of your. How much to buy.

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home. Loose fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an attic. Bulky materials resist conductive and to a lesser degree convective heat flow in a building cavity. If you put an air permeable insulation material over a hole in your ceiling you may have comfort indoor air quality durability and efficiency problems.

But your state s energy office or local utility may offer product rebates discounts or other financial incentives for insulating. Sometimes however insulation isn t enough. Insulation materials run the gamut from bulky fiber materials such as fiberglass rock and slag wool cellulose and natural fibers to rigid foam boards to sleek foils. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it.

Energy efficient insulation while an important consideration is actually only one solution to attic heating and cooling issues. Addressing all forms of heat gain loss and moisture related concerns is essential to creating an efficient healthy cost effective and sustainable efficient attic system. Before you ever get insulation anywhere near the attic though make sure that you get the air leakage sites sealed up. On average roll insulation costs less than other types of insulation source.

However if you re remodeling an existing home spray foam is probably the best option for maximum energy efficiency. The efficient attic solution. Loose fill cellulose or fiberglass can also be sprayed into existing structures. To find out if you have enough attic insulation measure the thickness of the insulation.