CL-October 2024 - 24

ENERGY SENSE
Keep Your
Money
Grounded
Finding hidden energy
savings in your attic
by Miranda Boutelle, Contributing Columnist
Y
es, using your attic for storage
can be problematic when
maximizing your home's energy
efficiency. Let's explore how to improve
insulation levels and properly store
items in your attic.
Q:
Do you have any tips on
finding hidden energy
savings in my home?
Attic insulation is one
of the best low-cost ways to
make your home efficient.
People oſten associate
insulation with keeping your
home warmer in the winter,
but it also provides benefits
in the summer. Insulation
reduces heat transfer from
the attic to the house, which
lowers energy bills for air
conditioning and makes your
home more comfortable.
Attic insulation is
measured in R-value,
which is a measurement of
how well a material resists
the flow of heat. For attic
insulation, thicker is better.
The recommended R-value is typically
between R-38 and R-60, depending
on your climate. Hawaii and the
southernmost tips of Florida and Texas
recommend R-30. Measured in inches,
that ranges from around 10 to 20 inches,
depending on the type of insulation you
have. In most homes, the ceiling joists
are buried in insulation to achieve the
recommended R-value.
22 * Cooperative Living * October 2024
A:
Building an
attic storage
platform offers
extra storage
space and
helps maintain
the energy
efficiency of
the attic with
insulation
underneath it.
I've been in a lot of homes. One common hiding spot for energy
savings is the attic. It is also a common location for storing holiday
decorations and sentimental items that are infrequently used.
The problem with attic
storage is it typically doesn't
offer enough space for the
recommended R-value. Oſten,
plywood or boards are placed
directly on top of the ceiling
joists, which isn't enough space
for the insulation. Insulation
can get compacted by people
moving items in or out,
reducing the effective R-value.
Ideally, the attic would
not be used for storage so
it could instead be properly
insulated, but that's not feasible
for everyone. Here are some
strategies for maintaining attic
storage and recommended
insulation levels.
The best location for attic storage
is over an unconditioned area of your
home, such as the garage. You don't
need insulation in attic spaces over a
garage or unconditioned area because
you are not heating or cooling the space
below. This makes it the perfect spot
to tuck away items for storage.
If that isn't an option, consider
minimizing the number of stored items
or the storage area's footprint. A great
way to do this is by building an attic
storage platform. A raised platform
allows the space underneath it to be fully
insulated. These platforms are available
in ready-to-install kits, or you can buy
materials and build them yourself.
Allow enough space underneath
the platform to achieve the proper
R-value. Use lumber to build a frame
perpendicular to the existing joists
and cover it with plywood or oriented
strand board. Once your storage area
is set up, add insulation inside the
platform to bring the R-value up to
the proper level.
Your attic might also have trusses that
allow you to build shelves and maximize
space by storing items vertically.
Always wear a dust mask or respirator
when working in the attic. Remember to
weatherstrip the attic hatch to ensure a
tight seal. Look around your attic to see
if you can find any hidden opportunities
for energy savings.
*
Miranda Boutelle writes on energyefficiency
topics for the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association.
co-opliving.com
http://www.co-opliving.com
CL-October 2024

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