Time to prepare for a cold winter - burr!

Okay so I woke up this morning and the temperature gauge read 42 degrees. Brr!! Winter is definitely on it's way! With the heat cranking this fall already, it becomes very apparent in differences that insulation upgrades like double pained windows and blown in blanket (BIB) insulation make.

As the market turns and the economy continues to recover from one of the longest recessions in history, homeowners are looking to live in a home for a longer period of time. This supports the statement that energy efficient and quality materials are more important now than ever.

After the past few years, blown in blanket (BIB) insulation has gained a lot of popularity with homeowners because of its high insulating R values. The R value is the insulation rating that measures the insulation's ability to resist heat flow - the higher the R value the more efficient and effective the insulation is at prohibiting the heat flow between walls and ceilings. Residential building codes only require insulation to have an R value of R38, but BIB insulation has a R value of R49! So why is BIB insulation so much better? It fills all of the spaces and gaps in between wires and outlets that typical batt insulation can not because it merely hangs or lays within walls.

Not only will BIB insulation leave you more comfortable in your home during the winter months, it will save you money by saving you an extra $40 per month in reduced energy costs. And, if you ever wish to sell your home, BIB insulation will become a very attractive and unique feature to all potential buyers. So whether your making upgrades to your current home or if your looking to purchase or sell a home, don't overlook quality energy efficient and insulating materials.

Zone	Add Insulation to Attic		Floor
	Uninsulated Attic	Existing 3–4 Inches of Insulation
1	R30 to R49	R25 to R30	R13
2	R30 to R60	R25 to R38	R13 to R19
3	R30 to R60	R25 to R38	R19 to R25
4	R38 to R60	R38	R25 to R30
5 to 8	R49 to R60	R38 to R49	R25 to R30
Wall Insulation: Whenever exterior siding is removed on an Uninsulated wood-frame wall: Drill holes in the sheathing and blow insulation into the empty wall cavity before installing the new siding, and Zones 3–4: Add R5 insulative wall sheathing beneath the new siding Zones 5–8: Add R5 to R6 insulative wall sheathing beneath the new siding. Insulated wood-frame wall: For Zones 4 to 8: Add R5 insulative sheathing before installing the new siding.

For more information on the installation R value, go to http://rvalue.net