What Does R-Value Mean?

The purpose of insulation is to stop the movement of heat. Proper insulation not only saves you money by increasing energy-efficiency in your home, it also makes your home more comfortable to live in and protects the environment from greenhouse gas emissions. Sufficient insulation can help lower your electric bill!

Insulation is graded in terms of R-Value, which signify resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the greater the resistance, and the better the insulation.

To establish your insulation’s R-Value, you must consider its thickness, density, and the material it’s composed of. The DOE recommends that most attics have an insulation value of at least R-49 (though many homes fall quite short - for example, the average home built in the late 1980s has an average R-Value of just 15). The colder your region’s climate, the higher your R-Value should be.

Determining if you have a sufficient amount of insulation is fairly simple. Go up to your attic. If you can see wood, it means that you probably do not have enough insulation. If you’re still unsure, simply measure. Depending on the type of insulation materials, a value of R-49 usually requires between 14-18 inches of insulation.

*Go Green* Fact

Studies show that an estimated 60 million U.S. homes have an insufficient
amount of insulation. This not only wastes electricity and money,
it also emits enormous amounts of extra Carbon Dioxide (Earth’s most
prominent greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere.