Cooperative Living October 2022 - 26

ENERG SENSE
Air sealing
prevents drafts
and air infiltration.
A contractor installs
blown cellulose
insulation..
Q:
W
What cost-effective improvements will
make my home comfortable year-round?
hen installed together, air
sealing and insulation can
save you money and make a
big difference in comfort and energy use.
INSULATION RATING
Insulation is rated in R-value. The R
stands for resistance to heat transfer.
The higher your R-value, the slower the
heat transfer, or less wasted energy. There
are several different types of insulation,
including fiberglass batts, blown
fiberglass, cellulose and foam. Each has
its own R-value listed on the packaging.
Generally, the colder the climate, the
higher the recommended R-value.
WHERE TO INSULA
The typical locations for insulation
are the attic, walls and floor. If you have
a forced-air heating or cooling system,
your ductwork should be insulated, too.
You want a consistent thermal barrier
around your home for maximum
efficiency. A bonus to insulation is it
can reduce noise from the outside of
your home.
Combined with air sealing, attic
insulation can prevent ice dams from
forming on your roof in colder climates.
Attics can be insulated using batts
or blown-in insulation. Recommended
R-values range from R-30 to R-60.
24 ● Cooperative Living ●
October 2022
Insulation Made Easy
There's value in understanding the R-factor
A:
by Miranda Boutelle, Contributing Columnist
If you use your attic for storage, you can
build a raised platform with room for
insulation underneath.
Wall insulation can be installed
during construction or a remodel. If your
home wasn't insulated when it was built,
a contractor can blow in the insulation.
Your home should also be insulated
between the floor and crawlspace or
unheated basement. If your basement
is heated, install insulation in the box
sills, the area between the foundation
floor of the home's main level.
Consider insulating the exterior
walls in the basement or installing
foam insulation on foundation walls.
Check your local building code
requirements. Recommended R-values
for floor insulation range from R-13
to R-30.
IMPORTANCE OF AIR SEALING
Air sealing prevents drafts and air
infiltration from outside. It can improve
efficiency, comfort and indoor air
quality.
Air sealing can be done as a DIY
project, but it is challenging to pinpoint
and properly seal air leaks. Consider
hiring a contractor to complete a blower
door test and seal leaks.
Typically, air sealing is done around
plumbing and electrical penetrations
It isn't pretty, but insulation and air sealing typically
provide the biggest bangs for your buck when it comes
to home energy-efficiency improvements.
with spray foam or caulk. If using spray
foam around gas appliances, temporarily
turn off pilot lights. Spray foam is
extremely flammable.
Sheet metal and high-temperature
heat-resistant caulk should be used to
seal gaps between framing, chimneys
and metal flues.
DIY CONSIDERATIONS
If you are considering a DIY
approach, protect yourself when going
into spaces with insulation. Wear a
properly fitted mask or respirator.
Wearing a a protective fabric and gloves
also is recommended. Kneepads can
come in handy and make the crawling
more bearable.
If you are planning a DIY approach
for air sealing, do your research about
best practices for the proper home
ventilation. Before going the DIY route,
contact two or three local contractors
for a project estimate. Sometimes the
contractor can get cheaper bulk pricing
on insulation.
Making insulation and air sealing a
priority adds comfort, efficiency and
savings to your home. 
Miranda Boutelle writes on energyefficiency
topics for the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association.
co-opliving.com
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Cooperative Living October 2022

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