Reducing Your Utility Bills | |
Turn off the lights! Close the refrigerator door! Shut off the TV! -- typical advice when it comes to saving on energy bills. But if you really want to reduce your utility bills, you should start chanting, Check the attic for insulation. According to a Department of Energy (DOE) report, between 50 to 70 percent of the energy used in the average American home is for heating and cooling, up to 20 percent for heating water, while everything else combined accounts for only 10 to 30 percent of homeowner utility bills. One of the best ways to conserve energy and cut heating and cooling costs all-year round is to add insulation in the attic. Additionally, insulation can make a home more comfortable, and help to maintain a uniform temperature while providing sound control benefits. The DOE recommends R-38 insulation in the attics of most U.S. homes, equal to 12 inches of fiber glass blanket insulation (the specific DOE recommendation for your area is based on local heating/cooling costs and the climate). Since most attics only have an average of six inches of insulation, adding insulation may help the majority of homeowners increase the energy efficiency of their home. No More Excuses Despite the money that may be saved and the benefits insulation provides, many homeowners still put off doing an insulation job because of the itch generally associated with installing insulation. This old excuse no longer holds water, because it is now easier than ever for a do-it-yourselfer to undertake an attic insulation project. PINKPLUS R-25 (8 1/2 in. thick) insulation featuring MIRAFLEX fiber, a new insulation product manufactured by Owens Corning, gets rid of the discomfort associated with insulating. The insulation comes in ultra-compact rolls -- about half the size of traditional rolls, while providing the same square footage of insulation. The smaller insulation rolls are easier to transport from store to home and then to the attic or crawlspace. So, now there are no more excuses. No more reasons to look at your utility bills in disbelief. An easy do-it-yourself project and a small investment today, may save you plenty in the years to come. |