Insulation That Will Pay For Itself
Insulation Is It Really Worth the Investment
Does insulation pay for itself? Here is the real value of what it takes to insulate your home. There are over 95 million homeowners in the United States that pay twice as much for heating and cooling related costs than they need to. Homes that leak air are woefully under insulated and waste energy because they’re poorly constructed. Common problem areas include your home’s air ducts, crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings, rooms over attics, and much more.As hot or cool air leaks out of, or enters your home uncontrolled, both your heating and cooling systems are working twice as much to maintain a comfortable home environment. Over the course of time, they could break down and need expensive repairs. The results boil down to living in an uncomfortable environment that is either too warm, or too cold to bare. Lucky for you, insulation is an investment that addresses all of your worries. When it comes down to repairing the problem, cost is often the number one excuse we use for not addressing the issue.
Everybody Likes Saving Money
A typical home in the United States averages between 2,200 and 2,500 square feet. It costs approximately $7,500 to maintain an energy efficient home. Project improvements may include air sealing and adding spray foam insulation to the attic, crawlspace, and walls or any other problem areas where the unwanted air is escaping or entering the home.
However, does insulation cost you $7,500? Does it cost anything it all? When you make a home more comfortable, you’re controlling air flow during the summer and winter months. In doing so, you’re lowering the cost of homeownership by reducing your fuel and electricity bills. The savings and repair cost will vary based upon how big your house is and the type of work that is being done.
By reducing heating and cooling costs, you can save up to 35 percent annually. Listed below is a breakdown of how much you can save after a six year period with spray foam insulation that has been added to a 2,200 square foot home.
The Initial investment $7,500 dollars
Year one savings $1,300 dollars and $6,200 invested
Year two savings $2,600 dollars and $4,900 invested
Year three savings $3,900 dollars and $3,600 invested
Year four savings $5,200 and $2,300 invested
Year five savings $6,500 and $1,000 invested
After six years you will save an additional $1,300 per year on your initial $7,500 investment. That’s a guaranteed 17 percent tax-free return on investment. As the cost of gas and electricity increase, you can expect to save even more money. However, if you continue to ignore the existing problem, you will continue to pay an additional $1,300 per year for your fuel and heating costs.
What We Know
This leads us back to our original question, does insulation pay for itself? The answer is yes, and your initial return on investment has more than paid for itself over the course of your long term investment. So even if you don’t see the real value of investing in new insulation for your home after living uncomfortably for a few years, you’re still going to end up paying the price one way or another, whether you get it or not.
