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Insulation

Photo of a worker blowing loose-fill cellulose insulation between the joists in the floor of a home attic.

A worker blows "dense-pack" cellulose insulation into an attic in Indiana. Adding insulation in ceilings and walls is such a common part of weatherization services that more than one crew has taken the nickname "dense pack."
Credit: Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association

Adding insulation is a part of almost every weatherization project. Making sure there is enough insulation in the walls, foundation, and roof-anywhere there is a barrier between the home and the outside-is one of the most important ways to make a home energy efficient.

The climatic zone where you live affects how much insulation you should have in your ceilings and walls.

Information for Homeowners Receiving Weatherization Services

  • Adding Insulation to an Existing Home

    EERE publishes this summary of how to add insulations to existing homes.

  • Loose Fill Insulations

    DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) publishes this fact sheet on loose insulations, which is the most common type of insulation used in weatherization to retrofit existing homes.

Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

Information for Weatherization Service Providers and Energy Professionals

  • Attic Access: Provide Adequate Insulation Coverage and Air Sealing for the Access Between Living Space and Unconditioned Attic

    (PDF 1.8 MB)
    DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this fact sheet as part of its "Building Technologies" series; 4 pp.; February 2000.

  • Basement Insulation: Create a Comfortable Basement Environment That Is Free of Moisture Problems and Easy to Condition

    (PDF 190 KB)
    DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this fact sheet as part of its "Building Technologies" series; 4 pp.; January 2000.

  • Insulation

    DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this portal (entry Web page) to a large amount of information on insulations; April 2003.

  • Wall Insulation: Provide Moisture Control and Insulation in Wall Systems

    (PDF 765 KB)
    DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this fact sheet as part of its "Building Technologies" series; 4 pp.; October 2000.

  • Ceilings and Attics: Install Insulation and Provide Ventilation

    (PDF 144 KB)
    DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this fact sheet as part of its "Building Technologies" series; 4 pp.; February 2000.

  • Crawlspace Insulation: Improve Comfort and Increase Durability in the Home

    (PDF 235 KB)
    DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this fact sheet as part of its "Building Technology" series; 4 pp.; December 2000.