Recommended Levels of Insulation (excerpt I)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1Improving your home’s insulation and sealing air leaks are the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste and make the most of your energy dollars. Be sure to seal air leaks before you insulate, because insulating materials won’t block leaks.
Sealing Air Leaks
2Air leaks can waste a lot of your energy dollars. One of the quickest energy- and money-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal, and weather strip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside.
Tips for Sealing Air Leaks
3Test your home for air tightness. On a windy day, carefully hold a lit incense stick or a smoke pen next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and other places where air may leak. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weatherstripping.
-Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air.
-Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets.
-Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on walls.
-Inspect dirty spots in your insulation for air leaks and mold. Seal leaks with low-expansion spray foam made for this purpose and install house flashing if needed.
-Look for dirty spots on your ceiling paint and carpet, which may indicate air leaks at interior wall/ceiling joints and wall/floor joists, and caulk them.
-Cover single-pane windows with storm windows or replace them with more efficient double-pane low- emissivity windows. See the Windows section for more information.
-Use foam sealant on larger gaps around windows, baseboards, and other places where air may leak out.
-Cover your kitchen exhaust fan to stop air leaks when not in use.
-Check your dryer vent to be sure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire.
-Replace door bottoms and thresholds with ones that have pliable sealing gaskets.
-Keep the fireplace flue damper tightly closed when not in use.
-Seal air leaks around fireplace
chimneys, furnaces, and gas-fired water heater vents with fire-resistant materials such as sheet metal or sheetrock and furnace cement caulk.
Recommended Levels of Insulation
4Adding insulation to the floors, walls, and ceilings of your home is one of the most cost-effective ways to save energy. The recommended levels of insulation for different parts of your home depend on where you live and the type of heating and cooling systems you have.
Attic Insulation:
- In Climate Zones 1-3, the recommended level of attic insulation is R38 to R60.
- In Climate Zones 4-8, the recommended level of attic insulation is R49 to R60.
Wall Insulation:
- In Climate Zones 1-3, the recommended level of wall insulation is R13 to R15 for existing homes and R13 to R21 for new homes.
- In Climate Zones 4-8, the recommended level of wall insulation is R13 to R21 for existing homes and R13 to R33 for new homes.
Floor Insulation:
- In Climate Zones 1-3, the recommended level of floor insulation is R13 to R30.
- In Climate Zones 4-8, the recommended level of floor insulation is R25 to R30.
Basement Insulation:
- In Climate Zones 1-2, the recommended level of basement insulation is R0 to R19.
- In Climate Zones 3-8, the recommended level of basement insulation is R13 to R21.
Crawl Space Insulation:
- In Climate Zones 1-3, the recommended level of crawl space insulation is R19 to R25.
- In Climate Zones 4-8, the recommended level of crawl space insulation is R25 to R30.
It is important to consult with a professional to determine the best insulation levels for your home based on your location and heating and cooling systems. By properly insulating your home, you can save energy, reduce utility bills, and improve the comfort of your living space.
Which argument is the author making in this text?
Responses
A Energy costs are too high.Energy costs are too high.
B Energy costs can be reduced.Energy costs can be reduced.
C People need to use energy in new ways.People need to use energy in new ways.
D Energy prices are only going to go up.Energy prices are only going to go up.