Adding insulation is probably the first thing that comes to mind if you want to reduce your homes energy waste. While you may be familiar with those fluffy rolls of pink fiberglass insulation, there are probably a few things about insulation that may just surprise you:

• Thinking of insulation as a warm sweater for your home is only half right. Insulation not only keeps heat inside during the winter, it also keeps heat outside during the summer.
• Many older homes were built without any wall insulation at all! Not to worry. Blowing cellulose or spraying foam insulation into your wall cavities is a lot easier than it sounds.
• Know what a “sill plate” is? Most people don’t. It’s where your home sits on the foundation and it’s a common source of heat loss – unless it’s covered with 2 inches of high-density spray foam insulation.
• Ever wondered what an “R Value” is? Of course you have, because engineers came up with the term. It measures the thermal resistance of insulation. There’s a complex formula behind it but, the simple answer is the higher, the better.
• A well-insulated attic is the lowest hanging fruit. It’ll keep heat from escaping in the winter and shields you from heat on a sunny summer day.

Today you can find insulation made from recycled newsprint, recycled glass, recycled steel slag (a landfill material) or even recycled blue-jeans! Your Clean Energy Works Oregon contractor and Energy Advisor will inspect your existing insulation and recommend where, how much and what type to add.