The best way to save on heating is to conserve the heat your home already has. An extra layer of insulation in the attic can translate to significant energy savings. The effectiveness of a given insulator is expressed as the 'R-factor.' This is a rating system developed by the Federal Trade Commission to determine how well a material stops heat transfer. To determine how effective your insulation is, multiply the R-factor of the insulator by how much of it there is. If you have five inches of insulation with an R-factor of four, the overall insulating value is 20. The amount of insulation you need varies according to climate. Recommended ceiling insulation ranges from R-22 in warm states to R-49 in the coldest ones. Be sure to check for energy leaks around doors and windows. Hold a match or a piece of tissue around these areas. If the flame flickers or the tissue waves, you've got a leak. Replace worn weatherstripping and caulk (cawk) around cracks to seal them. If you don't want to invest in double-paned insulating windows, storm windows are an economical alternative.
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