Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are several common types of insulation:

• Fiberglass batts are commonly used in-between studs or rafters when they are exposed in new construction or during a major remodel. They are also often found under the floor in a crawl space.
• Blown-in cellulose insulation is commonly used when adding insulation to an existing home’s attic or walls. Or, under a manufactured home, in the "belly".
• Rigid foam board is used when insulating concrete slabs, cathedral ceilings, basement walls, and flat roofs.
• Spray foam is sprayed into small tight areas. It then expands to form an air-tight seal.

When correctly installed with air sealing, each type of insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during the hottest and coldest times of the year.

Insulation performance is measured by R-value — its ability to resist heat flow. Higher R-values mean more insulating power. Insulation works best when air is not moving through or around it. It is very important to seal air leaks before installing insulation to ensure the best performance from the insulation. 

Start in the attic.

To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is usually in the attic. 25% - 35% of a home’s heat escapes through the roof. A quick way to see if a home needs more insulation is to look across the uncovered attic floor. If the insulation is level with or below the attic floor joists, more insulation is probably needed.

Does your roof look like this after a snow?

Additionally, after a heavy snow, if the snow is melting in the center of a home's roof or in patterns that mirror the rafters, the house may be losing large amounts of heat through the roof.

The Washington State Residential Energy Code has determined the following levels of insulation to be acceptable in Mason County. In an electrically heated home, PUD 3 can help bring insulation levels up to code.

RESIDENTIAL WEATHERIZATION/INSULATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

Site-Built Attic:

• Existing insulation R-0 to < R-11 can be increased to R-38, or R-49 @ $2.00 per square foot.
• Existing insulation R-11 to < R-19 can be increased to R-38, or R-49 @ $0.75 per square foot.
• Existing insulation R-19 can be increased to R-38, or R-49 @ $0.30 per square foot.

Site-Built Floor:

• Existing insulation ≤ R-11 can be increased to R-19 or R-21 @ $0.75 per square foot.
• Existing insulation ≤ R-11 can be increased to R-25 or R-30 @ $0.90 per square foot.

Site-Built Wall:

• Existing insulation R-0 can be increased to R-11+ @ $2.00 per square foot.

Manufactured Home Floor:

• Existing insulation R-0 can be increased to R-22+ @ $0.90 per square foot.
• Existing insulation < R-11 can be increased to R-22+ @ $0.60 per square foot.

A pre-insulation inspection and a post-installation inspection by a PUD 3 energy efficiency advisor is required. Insulation measures must be installed according to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Weatherization Specifications.

To get started, schedule a FREE pre-insulation inspection with a PUD 3 energy efficiency advisor to find out which insulation measures your electrically heated home is eligible for.

Duct sealing is important for both new and currently occupied homes. It ensures that conditioned air can travel through your home’s ductwork with a minimal amount of leakage. When ducts are tight, conditioned air gets to occupied rooms, rather than leaking into the crawlspace or attic. Leaky ducts substantially increase energy bills and decreases the comfort of a home.

Program Requirements

Performance Tested Comfort System (PTCS) and prescriptive duct sealing is available for electrically heated site-built and manufactured homes with an electric forced air furnace or ducted air source heat pump where the majority of ductwork is located in unconditioned space. Leaky ducts will greatly reduce a home’s energy efficiency. A certified technician can seal a home’s ducts, and PUD 3 may be able to help with a rebate. A certified technician can be found on BPA's website. Duct sealing forms can be found at bpa.gov/reshvac. Prescriptive Duct Sealing program requirements can be found here.

$200 INCENTIVE CHECK FOR EXISTING MANUFACTURED HOMES

$250 INCENTIVE CHECK FOR EXISTING SITE-BUILT HOMES