During a recent House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Energy Subcommittee hearing titled, “Powering America’s Future: Unleashing American Energy,” Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL) spoke to how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) can help Americans save on building upgrades that can make homes more comfortable, energy efficient, and resilient.
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Castor mentioned how many of her constituents are rebuilding from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the importance of weatherizing homes to better withstand future storms. Perhaps one of the most overlooked yet critical components of weatherizing a home is its insulation and air sealing needs. A well-insulated and air sealed home not only keeps the entire structure comfortable, but also helps reduce energy usage, saving homeowners money on costly utility bills.
One of the best ways to air seal and insulate your home is by installing spray foam insulation, which prevents conditioned air from escaping outside. Spray foam insulation also provides secondary structural benefits to the integrity of a home. When used on the underside of a roof deck in an unvented attic system, spray foam helps to unify and solidify the roof to a house, providing unparalleled wind uplift protection. It also increases your home’s raking strength, which when applied the walls of a home, can better withstand heavy wind and storms.
For consumers worried about the cost of such an upgrade, incentives, such as those made possible by IRA, allow homeowners the ability to enhance their properties. Specifically, the 25C tax credit program enables homeowners to receive up to $1,200 annually to help alleviate some of these initial insulation installation costs.
Lawmakers looking to incentivize stronger and sounder construction methods and practices should consider the innovative properties of building materials like spray foam insulation, which increases resiliency, reduces energy bills, and improves home comfort.