Energy Star® Insulation Guide for Homeowners
An Investment You Can Be Comfortable With.

You Can Save Energy, Money, and Prevent Pollution with Insulation.
Here's How:


Saving the Earth
Most household energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and natural gas, which contributes to air pollution. By properly insulating your home, you are not only saving household energy, but preventing emissions of harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment. If all U.S. residential buildings were upgraded with insulation at levels in the latest Model Energy Code, 250 billion pounds of CO2 emissions per year would be prevented, which is equivalent to removing 25 million cars from the road.1


Saving Your Money
Saving household energy also lowers your utility bills. In a nationwide survey of building improvements, adding ceiling insulation reduced heating bills by 10 to 20 percent and average energy savings associated with adding insulation typically pay for or exceed the cost of the installation.2


Follow the Insulating Tips Below For the Greatest Savings


Tip 1:
Correctly Install Your Insulation - Insulation will only deliver expected savings if it is correctly installed. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's / (Corbond Corporation) recommendations, cautions, and limitations when insulating your home yourself, or hire a contractor committed to high quality installation.


Tip 2:
Seal All Outside Air Leaks - Properly sealing outside air leaks throughout your house is particularly important for achieving the greatest energy savings.


Tip 3:
Choose the Right R-Value - An R-value is a measure of insulating power or ability to resist the flow of heat. Higher R-values mean greater insulating power, which means greater household energy savings and greater cost savings.3 Look for R-values on insulation packaging or talk to your contractor.
R-Values for Existing Homes - The levels in the table below are total R-values. Subtract the R-value of any insulation you have now to determine the R-value to purchase. If you don't have enough space or access to install the total R-value, just add insulation where space allows. To insulate walls with closed cavities, consider filling the cavity with blown-in insulation or adding rigid insulation under new siding.
R-Values for New Homes or Additions - The R-values in the table below are for existing homes. For new homes and additions, higher R-values may be required by law, so be sure to check with a local code official. If you are building new walls, consider value-engineered framing, structural insulated panels and insulated concrete forms to get high R-values.


Tip 4:
Look for the Energy Star®label - the symbol for energy efficiency.
Use this table for help in choosing R-values that are right for your home. Find your climate, your household heating system, and the area in your home that you plan to insulate and look for the matching R-value range.

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