Why would I want to insulate my basement walls?

Depending on the construction of your home, one of the most cost effective ways to save money on heating costs is to insulate an uninsulated foundation or basement. Concrete is an extremely poor insulator. A material’s resistance to heat transfer is measured as R-value. The R-value of 10 inches of poured concrete is 1 (R-1), the same as a single-glazed window. An uninsulated foundation is similar to surrounding the entire house with single-glazed windows. Many people mistakenly believe the ground provides insulation for the foundation. Insulating an uninsulated basement wall to an R-19 can save homeowners up to 20 percent per year on heating. If the heating bills total $1,000, the added insulation could save the homeowner $200 per year.

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