How to Insulate Your Attic and Save Money Year-round

Adding attic insulation is one of the easiest ways to reduce your energy bills. Here’s how to know whether you need more.

By Megan Hirt
July 17, 2007

Attic insulation
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Adding insulation to your attic can make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient year-round.
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As summer winds down, probably the last thing on your mind is climbing into your attic and putting up more insulation.

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But consider this: A well-insulated attic could slash your air conditioning bills throughout these warmer months in addition to reducing heating costs once winter rolls around.

“Adding additional cellulose insulation to an attic is often one of the most cost-effective strategies for improving the energy performance of a home,” says Alex Wilson, author of Your Green Home and president of BuildingGreen, a company that helps businesses improve the environmental performance of their buildings. “Not only will the added insulation reduce heating and air conditioning bills, but it will also improve comfort by helping to seal air leaks.”

Here are steps to get started on this money-saving project that’s relatively easy to do yourself.

1: Grab a yardstick or tape measure and make the ascent into your attic. Determine the R-value (the resistance to heat flow) of your current insulation by measuring its thickness in inches and multiplying that number by the R-value per inch for your type of insulation:

Fiberglass blanket or batt3.2
High-density fiberglass blanket or batts3.8
Loose-fill fiberglass2.5
Loose-fill rock wool2.8
Loose-fill cellulose3.5
Perlite or vermiculite2.7
Expanded polystyrene board3.8
Extruded polystyrene board4.8
Polyisocyanurate board, unfaced5.9
Polyisocyanurate board, foil-faced7.0
Spray polyurethane foam5.9

For example, if you have loose-fill cellulose attic insulation that measures 10 inches thick, you have an R-value of about 35.

2: The amount of insulation you need in your attic depends on the climate of your region. Find your zone on the map in the Image Gallery, then use the chart below to find the R-value recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). For more information, check out the DOE’s Insulation Fact Sheet.

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