Department Of Energy Attic Insulation

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

Department of energy attic insulation.

Enclosed existing wall or open new wall cavities. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Bulky materials resist conductive and to a lesser degree convective heat flow in a building cavity. Insulation level are specified by r value.

An energy assessment also known as a home energy audit will also help identify areas of your home that are in need of air sealing. A qualified home energy auditor will include an insulation check as a routine part of a whole house energy assessment. Learn more about where to insulate. 1a attic access door.

Before you insulate you should make sure that your home is properly air sealed. Most manufacturers use 40 to 60 recycled glass content. Insulation is literally built into the home s walls creating high thermal resistance. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home.

Insulation materials run the gamut from bulky fiber materials such as fiberglass rock and slag wool cellulose and natural fibers to rigid foam boards to sleek foils. Rigid foam boards trap air or another gas to resist conductive heat flow. If the air distribution is in the attic space then consider insulating the rafters to move the distribution into the conditioned space. Blown into place using special equipment sometimes poured in.

Loose fill insulation must be applied using an insulation blowing machine in either open blow applications such as attic spaces or closed cavity applications such as those found inside existing walls or covered attic floors. Types of insulation insulation comes in many different.