CGE - Building Performance Consulting

Why is insulation important?

Insulation is designed to resist heat flow - that is, if it is hot outside, insulation greatly reduces the amount of heat you can feel inside a house. Or, if it is cold outside, insulation helps keep the heat inside the house. Without insulation, the walls of your house would be very hot to the touch during the summer and your air conditioner must work harder to keep you cool. In the winter, a lack of insulation makes the walls very cold to the touch and the furnace must work harder to keep you warm.

Insulation works best when air is not moving through or around it. Therefore, it is very important that air leaks be sealed to ensure that you get the full performance out of any insulation that is installed.

To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is in the attic. When adding insulation to your house it is important to first evaluate how much and what type of insulation you currently have in your attic. The recommended revels of  insulation table can help you determine what is most cost-effective for your home. For more comprehensive information, review the Department of Energy's online Insulation Guide