We only think about the attic when it’s time to put away holiday decorations (or, dare we admit, when we hear a mysterious squeaking sound), but there are lots of things you can do to save energy and lower your electric bill.

Insulation

Did you know that approximately 80% of homes built prior to 1980 are under-insulated?

Get the Right Stuff

• Adding insulation to your attic is one of the most cost-effective ways to make your home more comfortable year round. The Department of Energy estimates that properly insulating your house can save you around 20% on your home heating and cooling bills.*
• It’s important to make sure your attic insulation is a good fit for the climate where you live. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends insulation with a rating between R-38 and R-49 for South Texas and R-49 for North and West Texas.

Install a Radiant Barrier

A properly installed radiant heat barrier in your attic can greatly reduce the effects of the sun’s radiant heat in the hot Texas summers. Radiant barriers help lower the temperature on the top surface of your insulation by either reflecting heat back up towards your roof or by reducing the amount of heat coming through your roof, depending on the installation method used.

*Source: ENERGY STAR®

Ventilation

Air it Out

• Proper attic ventilation is another great energy-saving strategy. Think of all the heat that collects under your roof in a typical Texas summer. Allowing the attic to breathe removes heat and helps your A/C work better.
• Ridge vents and soffit vents are very effective ways to remove heat.
• Also, you might want to look into continuous ventilation systems, which are installed behind gutters or under roof shingles to help hot air escape from the attic.

Air Ducts

Check for Leaks

• You also need to make sure air ducts that run through your attic or crawl space have proper insulation. Think about it — if cool, air conditioned air is running through a hot attic via un-insulated ducts, you can lose as much as 60% of your cooled air before it ever reaches the vent. This is also true for heated air running through a cold attic in the wintertime.
• Be sure to have your ducts checked to make sure they're working properly and are free of punctures, cracks, leaks and gaps. Any of these problems can result in your nice, cool air escaping into the attic instead of your house.