Insulation

Heating and cooling ("space conditioning") account for 50 to 70% of the energy used in the average American home. About 20% goes for heating water. On the other hand, lighting and appliances and everything else account for only 10 to 30% of the energy used in most residences.

Unless your home was constructed with special attention to energy efficiency, adding insulation will probably reduce your utility bills. Much of the existing housing stock in the United States is not insulated to the best level. Older homes are likely to use more energy than newer homes, leading to high heating and air-conditioning bills.

Even if you own a new home, adding insulation may save enough money in reduced utility bills to pay for itself within a few years, continue to save you money for as long as you own the home, and may increase the resale value of your house.

• Fact Sheet on Insulation
  (source: U.S. DOE - Oak Ridge National Laboratory) (pdf 1.85MB)
• Insulation and the Building Envelope
  (source: October 2006 Louisiana Energy Facts newsletter)
• Insulation
  (source: Draft - White Paper)