Because the San Luis Valley is the agricultural heart of Colorado, a lot of people tend to think it’s warmer here than it is in other parts of the state. But the truth is that it’s even colder in this high-altitude desert than in most places along the Front Range.
The average nighttime temperature in January is -2 degrees in the San Luis Valley, according to climate data collected by Colorado State University. That’s well below the 18-degree lows in Colorado Springs.
Insulation will help keep your San Luis Valley home warm
With such frigid temperatures, insulation is the first and most important line of defense against the elements.
Energy Star estimates that homes in the San Luis Valley are in climate zones 5 to 7, which means they should have R49 to R60 insulation in the attic, R38 to R49 insulation in the walls and R20 to R25 to R30.
Since many of the homes in the San Luis Valley were built before the 1970s, they have little insulation and some might not have any at all.
What’s wrong with too little insulation?
If your home is not adequately insulated, it won’t hold the heat. That means you will be running your furnace more to keep your home comfortable, and burning money in the process.
Adding the proper insulation to a home can reduce winter heating bills by 20 to 40 percent.
How to insulate your house
Insulation might seem intimidating, but you don’t have to take your house apart and put it back together again to make it more comfortable. You can simply cut a few strategic holes in the exterior of your house and blow insulation in between the exterior and interior walls before patching the holes back up and painting over them.
Get help keeping your San Luis Valley home warm
While insulation is the most cost-effective way to make your house immediately warmer, more comfortable and affordable to heat, it’s still not always easy for families to afford. The Energy Resource Center works with income-qualified homeowners and renters in the San Luis Valley to make free energy efficiency upgrades, including adding new insulation.
Our teams of experts can quickly and effectively add insulation and make other improvements that will permanently reduce your utility bills. Contact us today for help.
