Insulation...

OK...so I'm not sure why this came to me now...but I went up to the attic and measured home deep my insulation is.  Well...it's 6" of blown-in insulation.  That means at R2.5/inch, I only have a R15 for my attic.  It's recommended by Energy Star that I have a R25-R38.  In my old place I had a R30.  So, why so little?  And why didn't this tid bit of information show up in my ENERGY AUDIT that was performed last April?  So...maybe I could have used that 30% tax credit (up to $1500) that JUST EXPIRED.  @#$%@#@#%^!!!!

So...(wait for it)...I made myself a spreadsheet to figure out how much insulation I'd need.  It's roughly 980 sf in the main attic area because I have a storage area in the middle that has plywood over it. What's intriguing is that I went on the Lowe's website and I was surprised at how much blow-in insulation costs.  For an extra 7" of blow-in insulation to get to R38, it was going to cost me ~$2800. And that doesn't count the 2x10's I'd need to hold the insulation in place. However...since this insulation will go on top of my existing blown-in insulation, I can use roll-out insulation (it doesn't come with vapor barrier...good!) that is R30 and measures ~32 sf for only $13.50.  So, using this will cost me only ~$450 for 32 rolls and it will get me to R45.  It might be a little "itchier" if I don't bundle up correctly...and I will...I learned my lesson on that a while ago...but I'd say saving ~$2300 is well worth it.

Well...I guess I know what I'm doing this weekend.  And its supposed to be a high in the 30s too...so bundling up won't be a problem.