Insulation and ventilation
There is no insulation whatsoever in my attic. I was wondering what kind of energy savings I would see if I insulated it. Does insulation make a difference in hot weather, or is it mainly cold weather? I live in a hot area, so warmer weather is the main concern. My home is brick, about 700 s.f. What would it cost to insulate the attic (for materials)? Do you only insulate the floor of the attic?
Also, my attic is vented on both ends with just metal vent-type things up near the roof. Is this good or bad? They don't open or close (they're just plain metal vents, always open), so I was wondering if they are supposed to be closed up in the winter? I was also wondering if I should instrall any other type of venting, like one of those turbine things (looks like a chefs hat:p ). My house is super hot in the summer and doesn't seem to "let go" of the heat very well (like when it cools off overnight, the house remains HOT ). Anything I can do about this?
I thought my home would be much more efficient because it's so small (700 s.f.), built well out of brick, has shade trees, etc. but it is far from efficient in both summer and winter. All tips would be appreciated! Thanks!