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Insulation Basics
Insulation can be described as any material that restricts heat flow. It can be a variety of materials, such as mineral, organic, fibrous, or reflective. And it comes in many forms, such as batts, blankets, loose fill, rigid, or foam. Insulation is installed in homes to reduce heat flow through the home's envelope, keeping heat in during winter and out in summer. Considering that in most parts of the country, almost half of the home's energy dollar goes to heating and cooling, improvements to the envelope are usually a good investment.
If you currently have little or no insulation and you have already sealed air leaks with caulk or weather-strip, adding insulation may be the most cost-effective energy improvement you can make. However, adding insulation to an existing home can be difficult and fairly expensive, so take time to evaluate your home carefully, learn a little about insulation, and get advice and estimates from experts. An energy audit may help you prioritize measures, so consider viewing the "Audit" section of this program.
Adding more insulating in your existing home does not have the same impact as installing insulation in a home that's without it. The theory of diminishing return on investment does apply with insulation. For example, the addition of five inches of fiberglass saves 80 percent of the insulating potential. Additional inches don't save as much because most of the savings has already been achieved. The concept is easier to understand if you think about dressing for cold weather. The first coat you put on makes a big difference in your comfort, but if you put on more coats, each subsequent coat makes less difference.
