Reducing Your Carbon Footprint: Insulation 101

SUSTAINABLE LIVING | by CELESTE TELL

THE SHOEMAKER’S CHILDREN HAVE NO SHOES. AND MY HOUSE is poorly insulated. So you would be surprised to learn that I am married to an expert building-envelope consultant. The thing is, he only has eyes for large-scale commercial projects like biotech facilities and mixed-use high-rise buildings. So our house is poorly insulated, and if I want something done about it, I will have to do it myself.

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Interestingly, if you are building a new house, there are numerous ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home. If you live in an older home, however, your options are more limited, and in many cases cost-prohibitive. And let’s face it. Is there a more confusing or boring topic than insulation?

For older and existing homes, cost-effective insulation options are limited to places where the walls and floors are open (such as an attic, unfinished basement or attached garage) or materials that can be blown into the wall and ceiling cavities without taking the house apart.

Three places to start:

1. If you haven’t already, get an Energy Audit.
2. Investigate recommended insulation levels for your geographic region. The U.S. Department of Energy has maps and charts to tell you how much and what type of insulation you may need.
3. Contact your local gas or electric company. They may offer rebates for insulating your home using approved contractors who can come out and give you an estimate for doing the work, as well as time to pay back on your insulation investment.