When looking for ways to save on energy and enhance the value of your home, perhaps you have wondered if carpet can actually save you money on your energy bill. The answer is a resounding yes. Carpet flooring is a natural insulation, that provides the needed warmth in the cooler month.

The R-Value (which refers to the thermal resistance) is the factor that affects the overall effectiveness. Homes that have wall-to-wall carpet have the highest R-value, which saves you money.

Sophisticated tests from Johns Manville Thermal labs have explored this option in multiple settings. The carpet was tested based on the carpet’s construction, with and without padding. These results were compared to ceramic tile, hardwood and laminate. Results proved that the carpet is warmer! The better the construction of the carpet, combined with cushion, maximized the R-value. The carpet ranged from 3 to 17 times the R-value of the other flooring surfaces.

This demonstrates the effectiveness in using carpeting as insulation as opposed to hard surface flooring. There is no way to predict exactly what the savings will be. There are things that will affect these savings, such as:

* Floor construction.

* Local Energy Costs

* Climate

* Quality of Carpet/Pad

The colder regions of the country would be the biggest beneficiaries of carpeting.

Not only does carpet help lower energy costs, but it feels warmer as well. It helps maintain the body heat, instead of taking heat away from the body.

The best part of carpet flooring? It just looks nice and feels great on bare feet. That is a great combination when designing your new home or refreshing your current.