Most homes can become more energy efficient in both the summer and the winter just by adding a little insulation. Insulation helps control and maintain a home's temperature. Whether containing cold air from an air conditioner or warm air from a heater, insulation can help.

The U. S. Department of Energy has developed a measuring system to help homeowners determine the thermal resistance of different insulation materials, such as windows, siding, fiberglass insulation, etc. The term 'R-Value' is a unit of thermal resistance used for comparing insulating values of different materials. The higher the R-Value of a material, the greater its insulating properties and the slower the heat flows through it. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that homes have a combined R-Value of 11.

Following are a couple of ways that homeowners can increase their home's R-Value.

* Make sure that existing windows and doors are properly sealed. Replace old windows with double pane replacement windows with argon gas and a foam filled frame. Argon is an inert gas that prevents outside air from penetrating the home. The foam filled frame acts as an additional insulator around seams and helps reduce noise. Doors, like windows, should have tight seals. Homeowners can use caulking around windows and doorframes to insure strong seams.

* Homeowners can insulate existing walls with insulating foam. Foam is blown into walls throughout the home and takes up space within the walls. Homeowners can also roll fiberglass insulation onto attic floors.

* For the exterior, insulate with solid core siding. While foam and fiberglass insulate only the wall cavity, solid core siding insulates the entire wall, including studs and joists. Solid core siding features an insulated core inside the siding for increased thermal resistance.

* Look for building products that carry the Energy Star logo. The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed the Energy Star logo to identify products, which meet the energy efficiency guidelines set by these two government agencies. When installed as suggested in the Energy Star Insulation Guide, products with this logo can save energy.

To learn more about Solid Core Siding, call Crane Performance Siding. Solid Core Siding not only increases energy efficiency, but it also increases noise reduction and impact resistance, and carries the Energy Star logo. It is four times stronger than vinyl siding and has an R-Value as high as 4.5. To receive free information, call 1-800-366-8472 or visit www.vinyl-siding.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.aracontent.com, e-mail: info@aracontent.com