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Insulating to Save Energy
The truth is that almost 50% of any energy bill comes from the costs to heat and cool your home.
Remember all the energy saving tips your parents used to give you when you were a child? Turn off the lights as you leave the room, close the door behind you, and don’t leave appliances running when you are not using them. While these are all good ideas, and do help lower overall energy bills, they account for just a small portion of overall energy costs. The truth is that almost 50% of any energy bill comes from the costs to heat and cool your home.
Truly Effective Energy Saving Tips
Applying adequate insulation to your home may be the most important energy saving tip of all. Installing insulation will lower energy costs, but will also make your home more comfortable with a more consistent temperature. Another great benefit of having a well insulated home is that it cuts down on the outside noise that enters the home.
Insulation, as well as all building materials, is sold with what is called an R value which describes how well it provides thermal insulation. The most effective insulation has a high R value. Different R values will be needed depending on the climate conditions in the area you live. You can find lots of great information on the Internet by looking at sites provided by both government and private sources.
While most homes have insulation in the walls, ceilings, and floors, it is also important to install insulation in the corners, attics, and ceiling beams, the so called interstitial spaces of your home. Other ways to lower energy costs and seal your home include the use of weather stripping and other air sealing techniques. You can find lots of great information about sealing your home over the Internet, from both private and government sources.
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