What Insulation Upgrade Gives the Best Bang for Your Buck?
Insulation and energy efficiency upgrades reduce the amount of energy your home uses. That cuts energy costs, sometimes by so much that the upgrade pays for itself.
But it’s not always clear where to start. Should you go straight for new windows? Add attic insulation? Or focus on sealing air leaks first?
Based on our BPI-certified knowledge of building science (and years of hands-on experience), here’s the general order of operations that we’ve found gives most homeowners in the greater Cincinnati area the best bang for their buc
1. Air Sealing
Air sealing is the first step toward improving your home’s energy efficiency.
Air leakage through tiny gaps and cracks around things like recessed lighting, attic hatches, rim joists, and plumbing and wire penetrations is one of the biggest energy-wasters in a house. In most houses, it’s equivalent to leaving a window open all year long!
If you don’t want to heat the outdoors, you need to seal those leaks. Luckily, this is one of the fastest, easiest, and most affordable energy efficiency improvements you can make, which is why it’s first on the list.
Cost: Low to moderate
Biggest benefits: Energy bill savings, eliminates drafts, improves indoor air quality
2. Attic Insulation
The best insulation upgrade you can make is typically in the attic. Heat rises, and without enough attic insulation, a lot of it escapes through your roof.
Upgrading attic insulation to recommended R-values (R-50-R-60 in Ohio’s climate zone) slows down that heat loss. It also works in reverse, stopping outside heat from seeping in through the attic during the summer and saving you money on your AC bills.
Cost: Low to Moderate
Biggest benefits: Energy bill savings, year-round comfort, ice dam prevention.
3. Exterior Wall Insulation
Exterior walls can account for up to 35% of heat exchange in a home, and adding wall insulation can have a significant impact.
Depending on how your house is built, adding insulation to existing walls can be a bit more complex, and the investment can be a bit higher, but the return on investment can be huge. The higher upfront cost is why we sometimes recommend addressing air leakage and attic insulation first, especially if you’re looking for more affordable insulation upgrades.
Cost: Moderate
Biggest benefits: Energy bill savings, more consistent temperatures, eliminates hot/cold spots
4. Crawl Space Insulation or Encapsulation
Once your attic is sealed and insulated, the next major problem area for energy efficiency is underneath your home.
Homes with crawlspaces let cold air in and draw warm air out during the winter, greatly affecting the temperature in your living spaces. That air brings anything that’s floating around in your crawl space, like mold, mildew, and even insect parts, up into your house where you can breathe them in.
Crawl space encapsulation solves this problem. Encapsulation includes not just air sealing and insulating your crawl space but also installing a vapor barrier so it stays dry, preventing moisture damage, mold, and pest infestation while saving you money on your energy bills.
Cost: Moderate
Biggest benefits: Moisture and mold prevention, improved air quality, energy bill savings, warmer floors
5. New Windows
One of the biggest misconceptions about home energy efficiency is that replacing your windows will make the biggest difference.
This isn’t entirely unfounded. If you have very old single-pane windows, installing energy efficient replacement windows can save you money and boost comfort significantly. But, in most cases, they will have a much lower impact than insulating and air sealing your home properly, and they’ll be more expensive.
There are other benefits to new windows that you should consider, like aesthetic improvements and better home security. But if it’s energy savings and comfort you're after, start by evaluating your insulation and air sealing.
Cost: High
Biggest benefits: Aesthetics and curb appeal, home security, better window functionality
Get a Personalized Plan for Your Home
This ranking is a general roadmap based on homes that have little to no insulation and a lot of air leakage—the kind of issues we see most often in older homes around Cincinnati.
But every house is different. The most effective insulation upgrade for your home will depend on its age, construction, existing insulation, and more. That’s why we recommend a free energy assessment before you start making upgrades.
Our trained energy specialists will evaluate your home’s insulation and help you prioritize upgrades that will have the biggest impact on your comfort, air quality, and energy bills.
