Back to More Ideas & Tips
Back to More Ideas & Tips
Consider installing additional floor insulation.
Well insulated floors help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Reduce heating and cooling costs by installing a minimum of R-13 (warm climates) to R-30 (cold climates) insulation under lower floors of your house. Work with an insulation contractor to determine the best insulation strategy for your home's construction.
What You Need to Do
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1Engage a floor insulation vendor to install insulation under your ground floors. Floor insulation is a relatively inexpensive material; typically unrolled bats about a foot thick, inserted between your floor joists. It is easy and quick to install.
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2Be sure to select insulation with at least an energy performance profile outlined below.
Recommendation:
R-15 Minimum
Frequently Asked Questions
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If I complete this measure, can I track my savings over time?If you mark an item on your plan as completed, we will track your estimated energy use and savings over time. We can use this to find additional savings options.
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Why should I ask my contractor about the most energy efficient products?Energy efficient products usually have lower operating costs and frequently qualify for rebates.
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How can energy upgrades improve the comfort and health of my home?No matter how efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, if your home is not properly sealed and insulated, you may not be as comfortable as you could be, and your heating and cooling systems will have to work harder. Additionally, if you have leaky or poorly insulated ductwork, your home might have humidity problems, excessive dust, or rooms that are never quite comfortable. Improving the building shell and sealing ducts can generally improve your home.
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Do you know of good resources for DIY?To evaluate if this project makes sense to DIY, visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_effort