- With increasing energy costs, adequately insulating a home can save consumers money on household expenses. Utility companies estimate that more than 50 percent of the energy used in a home is for heating and cooling. Installing insulation can help cut these costs, resulting in significant savings in how much consumers pay for electricity and home heating fuel. According to the most recent U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) guidelines, newly constructed homes are now required to be at least 15 percent more energy efficient. In many cases, the energy savings can be as much as 20 to 30 percent. However, the right insulating materials must be used and properly installed in order to get the maximum R-value, or ability to resist heat loss. While the recommended R-value depends on the type of heating system, as well as the climate of the geographic area in which a home is located, the higher the R-value of the insulation, the more energy dollars a homeowner can save. Since it is the density of the insulating material being used and not the thickness, R-value makes a difference. Insulation for cold weather climates should have an average R-value of 25 for basement ceilings, with a higher R-value in attics or overhead crawl spaces. An R-value of at least 13 is required when insulating 16-inch wall cavities.
- Insulation actually works by reducing the amount of heat traveling through the material. For maximum energy efficiency, all areas in a home, including exterior walls, floors over unheated basements or crawl spaces, attic areas, and under concrete slabs should be insulated to prevent heat loss. Even the hollow cavities of masonry blocks used in constructing basement walls and foundations can be filled with foam insulation. Insulating concrete forms is another option now used for new construction. In this case, foam boards are actually built into the center of a concrete wall as part of the structure. When insulating concrete slabs, a polyethylene material is laid over a layer of crushed stone to create a vapor barrier. Polystyrene board is often the insulating material of choice for homes built on concrete slabs, but must be installed before the cement is poured on top. Insulating under the slab prevents heat lose through the concrete to the ground underneath. The interior of the basement can also be insulated, especially if walls are likely to stay dry. Foam board insulating materials with a foil facing are often used for this purpose. Rolled or batt fiberglass can be used to insulate a basement ceiling. The outside surface of concrete or masonry exterior walls should be covered with an insulating plaster, which is then protected with a weatherproof coating.
- Options for insulating the interior areas of newly constructed homes include rolled or batt insulation made of fiberglass or rock wool that can be fitted into wall cavities or between floor and ceiling joists. Installing rolled fiberglass insulation is one way to insulate the floors in attic areas. The paper side of the roll is placed face down toward the heated area below. Another method for insulating attics is to pour or blow in loose fill insulation. Loose fill insulation includes fiberglass, cellulose, rock wool or polyurethane foam products, which are good for filling in those hard-to-reach places. Insulation should come up to the top of the floor joists, but not be packed too tightly. The fill should be of even thickness, yet deep enough to allow for some settling. For added insulating value, unfaced rolled or batt insulation can then be laid across the top of the floor surface perpendicular to the floor joists.
- If you want to try to cut building costs by completing some of the more basic work yourself, rolled fiberglass insulation is relatively easy to install. This type of insulating material can be fitted between studs, floor joists and ceiling beams. When insulating walls, begin by measuring the distance between the horizontal top and bottom plates of the wall frame. Place the insulation face down. Cut a strip to length by pressing down firmly and cutting along a straight edge using a sharp utility knife. Position the strip in the wall cavity lining up the paper edge along the wall studs. Do not leave any gaps. Make sure insulation is not folded or sagging. The paper backing should be facing the interior side of the wall so that it can act as a vapor barrier to protect against moisture damage. Cut openings over wiring and plumbing. Pack insulation snugly, but not too tightly, around these areas so that there are no spaces behind. Start at the top of each strip and staple the paper edges to the wall studs about every 8 to 10 inches using ½-inch staples. Fill in any openings around doors and windows with pieces of insulation and caulk. The inside of exterior walls can also be insulated using rigid foam boards fitted tightly between framing cavities.
