Oftentimes you read about how making an upgrade to your home—replacing windows and doors, etc.—can help you save on your energy bill. Sometimes you’re promised that you can expect to save “up to X%.” But how much will you actually end up saving? Let’s talk real numbers, energy savings that count, and how much I have saved personally just by installing TAP® Pest Control Insulation in my attic.
The Energy Efficiency of My House
Here’s some energy-efficiency-related background on my house. It is approximately 3,500 square feet and was built in 1989. All of the windows are single pane. The attic had an average of three inches of loose-fill fiberglass prior to installing TAP® Pest Control Insulation.
My house is located on a moderately wooded lot and has several large trees that shade the entire house in the summer. It utilizes two separate HVAC systems, one of which is original from 1989. The other is newer; most likely purchased in the last 10 or 15 years. My house was a foreclosure, and most likely sat empty for almost 10 years, so I had no idea what my energy bill was going to look like going into the sale.
Energy Bills and Energy Consumption: Before & After
I lived in my house for about eight months before I had TAP® Pest Control Insulation installed in my attic. The only upgrades completed in those eight months were cosmetic and did nothing to increase the energy efficiency of the house.
Let’s get to the real numbers! We’re going to look at four different bills: July 2017 (summer before the installation of TAP®), December 2017 (winter before the installation of TAP®), July 2018 (summer after the installation of TAP®), and December 2018 (winter after the installation of TAP®).
| Bill Date | Energy Consumption (kWh) | Energy Bill Amount |
| July 2017 | 2538 | $332.82 |
| December 2017 | 3211 | $359.56 |
| July 2018 | 2076 | $270.45 |
| December 2018 | 2614 | $296.27 |
That’s a 18.7% drop in the bill amount in the summer and a 17.6% drop in the bill amount in the winter over one year. Now, that is energy savings that count. My conclusion… TAP® Pest Control Insulation really works!
What Did TAP® Do For My House?
Installing an attic cap of TAP® Pest Control Insulation has changed the environment of my home. I went from approximately an R-8 to an R-49. Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- There has been a SIGNIFICANT reduction in the number of insects inside my home. This is amazing, considering that my yard has lots of trees and several of them hang over my house.
- My HVAC unit doesn’t run as much as it previously did. During the first summer that I lived in the house, it ran non-stop to keep my house somewhat cool. Now, it runs in intervals and keeps my house at a perfect 70°F year-round.
- My energy bill is much lower as you can see above.
- My house stays warm enough in the winter that I typically wear shorts around my house and cool enough in the summer that I typically wear pants around my house.
One important thing to remember is that, while TAP® Pest Control Insulation helps to control insects in the attic, it is still important to have your home inspected regularly for pests by a local pest management professional.
If you’re looking for a TAP® Pest Control Insulation provider, please contact us. To figure out how much insulation is recommended in your area, check out the US Department of Energy recommendations.
Annie McCane is the Marketing Coordinator for Pest Control Insulation. She is very passionate about green energy solutions and just might be TAP® Pest Control Insulation’s biggest fan. Have questions? You can reach her here.