Insulation is key to reducing energy costs

With school starting and autumn right around the corner, it’s almost time to start thinking about the cold weather season ahead. I’m sure you’ll agree that last winter was brutal, so let’s get ahead of the game this year by doing one small thing to keep more heat in your home and give you a break on your electricity bills.

I’ve been in the attics of thousands of homes in this area and I can tell you that 75 percent of them aren’t properly insulated. This means that heat (and air conditioning in the summer) is escaping out of the house and that you are likely turning that thermostat up (or down) way more than you have to.

Insulation acts as a barrier against heat flow, helping to keep the warm air inside the house by slowing the flow and stopping the heat from getting outside. The problem is that most people, especially those who own older homes, do not have enough insulation to keep up with our increasingly cold winters.

How do you know if you have proper insulation? You’ll need to find out where you currently have (or don’t have) insulation, what type of insulation is currently installed, and what its “R-value” is. The R-value is the material's’ resistance to heat flow, so the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating properties. Once you have this information, you can determine how much additional insulation you need, which will be dependent on our Connecticut climate, your house size and what kind of heating you have. This analysis can either be done by a qualified contractor or you can do it yourself if you’re handy around the house.

The United States Environment Protection Agency says that with proper insulation, the average home in our area can save approximately 16 percent in total heating and cooling costs. For older homes, that number skyrockets to nearly 50 percent. So is it worth taking a look at insulation? If you like keeping more dollars in your wallet, I’d say yes.