All homeowners face the burden of paying utilities to heat and fuel their homes. Often enough we attribute the high bills for electricity, oil, and gas as necessary overhead in order to have a comfortable home. We often look at doing the simple things we can do to save pennies, such as turning off the light in an unused room, but we overlook the benefits of insulating our basements, walls and attic and thus save even more than just pennies.
According to Dept. of Energy statistics, space conditioning, that is heating and cooling, accounts for 50% to 70% of the energy consumed in the average home here in the United States. Another 20% goes toward heating water, while 10% to 30% goes to lighting and powering household appliances. While it makes sense to be conscious of turning off lights and appliances when not in use, it's a virtual no-brainer to examine your home's insulation and eliminate unnecessary waste there as well.
Unless you own a modern home constructed with special attention to efficient energy consumption, adding insulation will probably reduce your utility bills. Many homes throughout the country are not insulated for optimum efficiency and maximum savings. Older homes are more likely to use more energy, leading to higher heating and air conditioning expenses. Newer homes aren't always insulated efficiently. Adding insulation may save enough money in reduced utilities to pay for itself within a few years, and may help you generate a savings surplus for years to come.
Click on the links to the left for more specific information with regard to insulation benefits.