Many homeowners dream of transforming their attic into a usable living space. This could be a home office, a guest room, a playroom, or even a gym. However, before you start moving furniture, you'll need to consider how to heat and cool this new space.
Climate Control for Your Attic
Attics are notorious for fluctuating temperatures, making them uncomfortable throughout the year. To ensure year-round comfort in your new attic space, proper insulation and heating and cooling systems are essential.
Attic Insulation
Before you choose an attic-friendly HVAC system you’ll need to take a good hard look at your insulation. Even if you’re not looking to make your attic a useful space for more than storage, beefing up its insulation can improve your energy efficiency in the rest of the house.
Some technical things to consider:
R Value. This is the efficiency rating of the insulation. The higher the number, the better the insulating effects are. In Massachusetts, attics should have insulation with an R Value of at least 49-60.
Material. Most of us think of fiberglass (the pink cotton-candy looking stuff) when we think of insulation, but there are alternatives to fiberglass like rock wool made from natural stone fibers, blown-in cellulose made from recycled plant products, and spray foam which finds every nook and cranny outside air might sneak through.
Mass Save offers incentives for upgrading insulation in buildings under 8,000 square feet, including attics, basements, and walls. To get started, you’ll need a no-cost Home Energy Assessment from one of their approved contractors.
If you take advantage of the Mass Save rebate program you can save 75-100% of the cost of getting it installed, and even get a 0% HEAT Loan to cover the rest of the cost.
Photo by Sema Martin on Unsplash
Photo by Antonio Caverzan on Unsplash
Ductless Mini-Splits: A Great Choice for Attics
Our recommendation for attic climate control is ductless mini-split systems. These energy-efficient units are easy to install and operate. They can be controlled remotely for added convenience. Here are the key benefits of ductless mini-splits:
Energy Efficient
Easy Installation
Remote-Controlled Comfort
Highly Adjustable
While ductless mini-splits have a higher upfront cost than some other options, Mass Save offers rebates and financing options to make them more affordable.
Heat Pumps: Efficient Year-Round Comfort
Heat pumps are having a moment, especially throughout New England. Maine residents are replacing boilers and oil-burning heating equipment with all-electric heat pumps. The New York Public Housing Authority is experimenting with apartment-sized heat pumps.
Closer to home for Boston area residents, the long-running Mass Save program helps Massachusetts residents switch to cleaner, more efficient energy options by offering incentives like rebates and 0% interest loans.
Heat pumps function by transferring heat, providing both heating and cooling capabilities. Here's why a heat pump might be the perfect solution for your attic:
Clean Operation: Heat pumps don't burn fuel, making them an environmentally friendly option.
Year-Round Comfort: They provide both heating and cooling, ensuring consistent comfort throughout the year.
Ductless Compatibility: Ductless mini-split heat pumps eliminate the need for installing ductwork.
Why is a heat pump the right choice for your attic HVAC?
Heat pumps heat and cool spaces without burning anything, so they don’t reduce air quality.
Heat pumps work equally well in cold weather and hot weather. During the summer, air-source heat pumps remove hot air from the attic and pump it outside. In winter they remove heat from the outside air and move it into the attic.
Ductless mini-split heat pumps don’t require central air or heating for installation. Many people think mini-splits only handle air conditioning and cooling, but they’re also great for heating chilly spaces in your home.