How much insulation do you need in your ceiling to get effective insulation protection?

The min­i­mum require­ment for ceil­ing insu­la­tion is R‑30, but the rec­om­men­da­tion is R‑38–49. Prop­er insu­la­tion can cut ener­gy costs by as much as half! Also, con­sid­er insu­lat­ing out­side walls, attics, spaces between floors, around heat­ing ducts and pipes that are exposed to the ele­ments. Insu­late nooks and cran­nies such as wall out­lets, gaps in sid­ing and around the foun­da­tion, and holes around pipes, ducts, and exhaust fans.