Introduction
Benefits
Equipment & Services
Hiring Contractors
Do it Yourself

Smart Energy Living would like to thank the Insulation Contractors Association for America, who contributed to the information below.

1. Introduction

Unless your home was constructed with special attention to energy efficiency, determining if you have adequate levels of insulation. If not, adding insulation should be one of the first improvements you make. Homes with inadequate insulation waste significant amounts of energy and require larger heating and cooling systems that also waste energy, costing you money.

R-value measures insulation's resistance to heat flow. It can also be referred to as thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power. All materials having the same R-value, regardless of type, thickness, or weight, are equal in insulating power. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends home insulation R-values based on the different climate zones in the United States. Here are the recommendations for Colorado:

Ceiling	Attic Cathedral	R-49 R-38
Walls	4-inch cavity 6-inch cavity	R-13 or R-15 R-19 or R-21
Floors	Under floor Crawl space	R-25 R-19
Slab Edges		R-8
Basement Walls		R-10

2. Benefits

Energy Savings
Insulating an older home or one with inadequate insulation can reduce  energy bills up to 30%. The amount of energy you conserve will depend on several factors including local climate; the size, shape, and construction of your house; the living habits of your family; the type and efficiency of the heating and cooling systems; and the fuel you use. Energy conserved is money saved, and the annual savings increase when utility rates go up.

Comfortable Living
Think of insulation as your home’s blanket. If any area of the home is not properly insulated, air will pass through and cause comfort problems. Uninsulated walls are cold, and you'll be cold too because your body heat will be drawn out toward the cold surface. Insulation is an efficient way to reduce unwanted sound, and it is commonly used to provide a quieter interior environment. Insulation effectively reduces noise transmission through floors and through interior and exterior walls.

Safety & Indoor Air Quality
Proper installation is essential for insulation to perform properly. Knowledge of vapor retarders, air infiltration, ventilation, recessed lighting, and water pipes are just a few of the areas critical to installation techniques. If you have questions about how to achieve the best results from increased insulation, it is wise to consult an insulation professional.

Increased Home Value
An energy mortgage increases a consumer’s buying power by enabling mortgage lenders to count the monthly energy bill savings that a home’s energy efficiency features deliver as additional income. There are two kinds of energy mortgages: energy-efficient mortgages and energy improvement mortgages. Find out more about these mortgage programs from the Residential Energy Service network website, natresnet.org.

Conservation
Boosting a standard insulation level to super-insulated levels reduces carbon dioxide emissions dramatically. In terms of tons of CO2/yr., it’s possible to save 5.5 tons of from natural gas, 8.8 from oil, and 23.0 from coal.

3. Equipment & Services

• Fiberglass is made from molten sand or recycled glass and other inorganic materials under highly controlled conditions. Fiberglass is produced in batt, blanket, and loose-fill forms. If you use or have batt insulation, inspect it for gaps. If batt insulation isn't properly installed, it's like wearing a ski parka that isn't zipped up. If cold air can infiltrate, it significantly reduces the effectiveness of the insulation.
• Rock and slag wool are manufactured similarly to fiberglass, but use natural rock and blast furnace slag as its raw material. Typical forms are loose-fill, blanket, or board types.
• Cellulose is a loose-fill made from paper to which flame retardants are added.
• Foam insulations are available as rigid boards or foamed-in-place materials that can fill and seal blocks or building cavity spaces. Foams are also used in air sealing to fill gaps, cracks, or openings.
• Reflective materials are fabricated from aluminum foils with a variety of backings such as polyethylene bubbles and plastic film. Reflective insulations retard the transfer of heat.
• A Radiant Barrier is a building construction material consisting of a low emittance (normally 0.1 or less) surface (usually aluminum foil) bounded by an open air space. Radiant barriers are used for the sole purpose of limiting heat transfer by radiation.
• Professional insulators can blow in wall insulation using a loose fill or a dense pack processes. These forms of installation will greatly enhance the benefits you experience. Professionals normally use a gas-fired machine to blow in insulation, and fill tubes for dense pack to avoid any gaps in the insulation.

4. Hiring Contractors
Download our insulation contractor comparison form (Acrobat reader .pdf format). Find an insulation contractor from our list of contractors.

Questions to ask
It is important to find an insulation contractor that is experienced working in existing homes. Experienced retrofit contractors should take steps to minimize dust and drill holes (when insulating walls). It is up to the homeowner to be sure that an insulation contractor will use drop cloths and clean up after their work; adding insulation in existing homes is a messy job. It is also up to the homeowner to make sure all the insulation paid for is actually installed. Check the entire attic and considering being at home when insulation is added to the walls and other hard to see areas.

Make sure the contractor uses a variety of insulation materials so they can use the best option for different areas of your home. Contracts should be specific including exact R-values (not inches of insulation), where the insulation will be installed, cost, method of payment, and warranty information provided by the insulation material manufacturer.

Certifications
Look for insulation contractors that belong to Insulation Contractors Association of America. Each ICAA-member insulation contractor subscribes to the ICAA Code of Business Ethics as a condition of membership.

References, licensing, insurance
It is always important to speak with previous customers, check with the Better Business Bureau and ask for verification of the necessary licensing and insurance requirements. Download a home improvement hiring checklist from the Federal Trade Commission.

5. Do it Yourself

If you want to install insulation yourself, download this comprehensive home sealing guide from ENERGY STAR.

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