Insulation is important all year round, and by adding extra insulation you can save money and energy. | Photo courtesy of Dennis Schroeder, National Renewable Energy Lab
Last week, my parents were told me about their frustrating efforts to increase the insulation in their attic. Since I've never owned a home and have never had to worry much about insulation, I decided to look it up. Unsurprisingly, Energy Saver has an excellent family of articles about installing insulation in existing homes.
You might think insulation is most important in the winter, since it keeps the heat from escaping out of your roof. But really, insulation is important all year round. An energy-efficient home is a sealed and insulated one. Sealing your home keeps outside air from coming in, and insulating it keeps the temperature stable.
Energy Saver has some excellent articles on the entire process:
There's more, too!
Unless your home was specifically designed to be energy efficient, you can probably reduce your energy bills by adding more insulation. It might not be the best time of the year to crawl into a smoldering attic, but if you're looking for a way to save money, adding more insulation could be a cost-effective approach.
