You have heard about energy audit can help you reduce your energy bills. Later you find out that home insulation is one of the great recommendations to improve your home energy efficiency. Perhaps you are currently in the position of choosing the right insulation material and you were told to choose the right R-Value for your home insulation. These questions may come up into your mind — What is R-Value? What it has to do with my home insulation?
What is R-Value
The R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building, construction industry and house. In simple words, R-value is a quality of a material to resist transferring heat / cold through it.
In world-wide, the mathematical definition of R-value is Kelvin square meters per watt (m2.K/W).
- m2: meter square
- K: Kelvin
- W: Watt
But in the United States, R-value is measured with degrees Fahrenheit (ft².F.h/Btu).
- ft²: foot square
- F: Fahrenheit
- h: hour
- Btu: British thermal unit.
All insulation has an R-value rating, usually from R-7 to R-50. This rating indicates the insulation’s resistance to heat flow from a warm area to a cooler area. If you want to know the formula and how to calculate it, see the Wikipedia R-value Insulation page. But the essence is the higher the R value, the more effective it is.
What R-value has to do with Home Insulation
The US Department of Energy (DOE) lists inadequate insulation as a leading cause of home energy waste because it forces even the most efficient heating and cooling systems to work harder and consume more energy. Inadequate insulation can be caused by the wrong calculation of R-value or using insulation material without considering the R-value.
The R value of insulation that each person needs to use in his home or office depends mostly on the local climate. DOE recommends ranges of R-values based on local heating and cooling costs and climate conditions in different areas of the US nation
So you need to consult with your energy auditor expert which type of home insulation material should be purchased based on its R value. The higher the R-value, the better your walls and roof will resist the transfer of heat.
Helpful Resources for R-value Insulation
Here are some helpful resources for further information about:
- Recommended Levels of Insulation – The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost-effective for different climates and locations in the US home
- The R-value for material table list – Typical per-unit-thickness R-values for material
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