Add insulation to roof, walls and basement

Why

The more insulation a building has, the less heat it loses in the winter, and the less heat it gains in the summer.  Insulation reduces both your heating bill in the winter and your air conditioning bill in the summer.  Plus, a well insulated building is more comfortable.

How

Some spaces are relatively easy to insulate – like an unfinished basement or an accessible attic. These you should tackle right away. When you are replacing siding is a good time to add insulation to exterior walls. Plan ahead to invest in whole home insulation.

If you are a DIY family, here’s a helpful resource.  Otherwise look for insulation contractors in the yellow pages. 

Because adding exterior insulation is an expensive project, add as much as you can at the time, so you don’t need to go back and do it again. It is imperative that two thirds of the insulation be outside of the vapor barrier.