Insulation Institute Blog

Posts Categorized: Insulation

EIA: Home Heat Forecast A Mixed Bag

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its Winter Fuels Outlook, and it’s good news for homeowners who heat with natural gas. According to the EIA, those homeowners will see a 9 percent dip in their fuel bills this winter, while homeowners who heat with electricity will see a 4 percent increase in costs, and those who burn oil will see a 21 percent increase.

U.S. homes primarily use natural gas (53 percent), electricity (32 percent), Propane (6 percent), and fuel oil/kerosene (5 percent) for heating. A smaller percentage of homes use wood or have no heating or other heat sources (2 percent and four percent, respectively).

Details »

New Guides Offer Expert Instruction for Attic and Roof Options

NAIMA has released two new instructional guides for insulation contractors and other building industry professionals. The guides cover best practices for two common construction options: vented roofs for cathedralized attics and vented attics for new homes.

Vented Attics for New Homes: Solutions That Work

This manual provides information and details on installing a vented attic in a new-construction home. It is organized around building science principles that maximize assembly performance, including proper air sealing, ventilation, and insulation installation to limit energy loss or heat gain.

A properly installed vented attic improves energy efficiency, prevents moisture damage, and extends roof life. This guide helps contractors learn the critical steps to deliver optimal performance.

Details »

New Fact Sheets Address Carbon Claims, Air Sealing Misconceptions

In the quest to decarbonize the built environment, architects, builders, and specifiers seek products that can help lower their environmental footprint. But in the rush to decarbonize, there is a risk of buying into overstated marketing claims that products are “carbon-negative.”

Our newly released fact sheet, Facts You Should Know About Cellulose and Wood Fiber Insulation Carbon Statements, examines some of the most common – and misleading – carbon claims about these products.

Details »

As Energy Demand Surges, Insulation Becomes Frontline Fix

The exploding U.S. energy demand, particularly for electricity driven by data centers, electrification, and broader economic activity, makes a compelling case for expanding insulation to manage consumption. The release this week of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy’s and Bloomberg NEF’s 2026 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook provides comprehensive year-over-year details and data-driven trends that only bolster the case for insulation to help manage the resulting impacts.

Details »

Free Expert Guidance on Wall Assemblies

Moisture is involved in most building envelope performance problems, including mold growth, metal corrosion, and other material degradation. In fact, home repairs due to moisture-related issues cost an estimated $32B annually, according to the Federal Reserve Bank.

Details »

Mitigating Energy Upgrade Costs for Renters

According to research from the Sierra Club, roughly 50 percent of tenants in the U.S. are cost-burdened by utility payments. As building owners nationwide address much-needed energy efficiency improvements in aging rental housing stock, there’s a growing emphasis on mitigating steep rent increases for renters.

Details »

Voters Want Efficiency. Are They Getting It?

New research released this week from Data for Progress reveals that a bipartisan majority of American voters know about energy efficiency (68 percent) and that it can reduce energy consumption at home and lower household costs. Additionally, U.S. Energy Information Administration data shows that U.S. energy consumption per household declined by 32 percent between 1980 and 2015 even with rising electrification and appliance use. Yet, despite the broad awareness of and appreciation for energy efficiency, most voters are unaware of top actions and incentives for efficiency improvements.

Details »

Getting Higher Performance at Lower Costs

Maximizing energy performance to cost in new construction homes is every home builder’s goal and every home buyer’s expectation. Research shows that home buyers want energy efficiency but also need affordability. For builders committed to maximizing efficiency, fiberglass and mineral wool insulation products offer both performance and cost-effectiveness.

In this week’s blog, we highlight three publications that demonstrate that fiberglass and mineral wool can be used to meet any high-performance building approach. 

Details »