Attic Insulation: Not Just for Colder Climates.



There is a common misconception concerning attic insulation across the US. People tend to think that beefing up attic insulation only makes sense in colder climates. Yet, the  vast majority of homes in the US, even those in colder areas of the country,  have poor attic insulation. Usually less than half of the Department of Energy's recommended R-Value for attic insulation in any given area. In South Carolina, mild winters and hot summers lead people to think that they hardly need any at all, often forfeiting that important step when investing in green home improvements.  The truth is that a properly insulated and air sealed attic is the single most important element of a green energy efficient home, regardless of where the home is located. The role of insulation is to prevent thermal losses by slowing down conductive heat transfers. The attic is the one area of the house where the most drastic temperature changes occur year round. During the summer, the sun heat is transferred from the roof to the attic, resulting in scorching temperatures. A heated attic makes your whole house hot, and your HVAC will have to work much harder to keep you comfortable. The process is reversed in the cold days of winter. Because temperatures migrate from high to low, the heat in the living area will be transferred to an insulated attic at a greater rate, through the ceiling, and put an extra burden on your heating system. The energy penalties can be even more significant if you have ducts or your HVAC unit running in the attic. In addition, improper air sealing of the attic will also increase energy losses through leakage. The heated air in the house will rise, escape through the openings in the attic, causing unconditioned air from the outside to be consistently sucked in from the lower levels of the building, and making your HVAC work harder to keep up with heating and cooling all that new supply of air. In building science, that phenomenon is  know as the "stack effect". Poor attic insulation and air sealing can also be responsible for moisture buildup in the attic, mold, dry rot and ice damming in the roof. And the pretty icicles we see dangling down the roofs when it snows are a tell tale sign of an energy wasting attic. If you are serious about making your Columbia, SC home more comfortable and saving money in your energy bills, give Dr. Energy Saver Columbia a call. Schedule a free attic insulation estimate, or ask for a full home energy audit. Let them show you how you create a green,  healthy and energy efficient home.