Articles

Improving your home's energy efficiency with insulation

Does your home feel drafty in the winter? Do you experience uneven temperatures between rooms or walking down hallways? Is your heating and cooling equipment running constantly, even when you don't think it should be? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you might need to seal the leaks and increase the amount of insulation in your attic. Attic insulation and attic air sealing are proven to provide lifelong energy savings – and improve the quality of the air you breathe every day.

By improving your home's energy efficiency with insulation and air sealing, you can save big on your energy bills and make your home more comfortable. In fact, many energy efficiency improvements pay for themselves quickly in energy savings.

You can receive the attic insulation and air-sealing rebate one time per household. The duct sealing incentive will be paid one time per duct system. So, if you have two systems in different areas of your home, such as the attic and an unconditioned basement, you could qualify for two incentives.

Signs that you need better attic insulation in your home:

• Drafty rooms
• Rooms that are too hot or too cold
• Uneven temperatures between rooms
• High heating or cooling bills

Attic rebate eligibility requirements:

• Attic must be over at least 1,000 square feet of air-conditioned space.
• You must be a Duke Energy residential electric service customer residing in a single-family home, condominium, townhome or duplex.
• Rebates are paid for qualifying completed home improvements after all application and supporting documentation is submitted and approved, within 60 days of date of service for work completed after the program start date of Oct. 1, 2017.
• Your attic insulation has to be improved from R-19 or below to at least R-30, and your home leakage rate must be improved by at least 5%.
• If you’re considering energy efficiency improvements, this should be first on the list. The attic is usually where you can find some of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home. By air sealing in your attic, you can stop many major air leaks and help to maintain your desired temperature throughout your home.
• If you have uneven temperatures in different parts of your house, it could mean your duct system is wasting up to 20% of your home's energy. Since your ducts typically run underneath the house or through the attic, they can be exposed to many hazards, such as extreme weather, rodent activity or accidental damage from items stored in attics.
• If you live in an older home and have never upgraded your insulation, you'll see a significant increase in your comfort and a decrease in your energy bills by upgrading your attic insulation to a higher R-value. The R-value of insulation indicates its resistance to heat flow. In the summer, insulation with a higher R-value is better at keeping hot air out. And, in the winter, it's better at keeping warm air inside. If you'd like to increase your comfort and decrease your energy bills, take advantage of the Insulate and Seal incentive and upgrade your home's insulation to an R-value of R-30 or higher.

Duke-energy.com/attic  offers rebates

Bryon Ling with Patriot Home Inspections 

How much attic insulation does your home have? Older homes, in particular, often have less insulation than recommended. Enjoy comfortable year-round temperatures and save on your energy bills by contacting a professional to inspect your attic and add more insulation. Look for these signs of improper insulation levels and contact a professional today.

Drafty Home

When you get a cool breeze in the middle of your home in winter, it’s a sign that your home is improperly insulated. Inefficient insulation causes uneven temperatures from one room to another, which creates a draft. Create a uniform temperature throughout the seasons by upgrading your attic insulation. Insulation helps your home retain hot air in the winter and air-conditioned spaces in the summer.

Temperature Swings

Is your upstairs cold in the winter and hot in the summer? These large temperature swings are not only a sign of inefficient insulation, but it points to your attic as the likely culprit. An uninsulated attic allows all your hot air to escape through your roofline in the winter. In the summer, direct exposure on your roofing material causes it to heat up. A lack of insulation makes it easy for all the excess heat to transfer into your home.

Ice Dams

Finally, ice buildup on your eaves is another common sign of improper insulation in the attic. While icicles hanging from your eaves may add a festive look to your home, it can damage your roofing material and encourage water to pool on your roof and enter into your attic.

Contact a professional today to inspect your attic and add more insulation. Attic insulation can be difficult to add, depending on the electrical wiring or other components in your attic space. A professional will ensure safe installation and proper ventilation throughout your attic. Save on your next utility bill and enjoy a comfortable home all year long with proper and professional insulation installation.

 

In an unfinished attic, the goal of insulation is to keep the rooms below cool in summer and warm in winter. That means insulating the attic floor only—not the walls—and having vents in the roof. With a finished attic, insulation must help keep the attic areas comfortable.Sep 10, 2019

 

Submitted by My Favorite Realty Inc. 

Paula Fields    336-543-8683     PFields2@triad.rr.com