On insulation: what's the current "technology" in insulation? We will
be needing some (or more than some) in our new house, and I want to
invest in better insulation once, instead of more oil and wood
forever.
How much money are you willing to spend? There are some super
insulation products, mostly foam, either solid or sprayed-in-place,
but they tend to be expensive. Ease of entry into the existing walls
and attic space might suggest one type over another. It may well
already be too late in the year to consider opening the walls. In that
Ithaca climate it is likely that the house is pretty well built and
already has quite a bit. As with solar heating and electric
generation, a primary consideration is payback period. I suggest you
find a local contractor who knows the climate, the products locally
available, and the installed costs.
Fine Homebuilding magazine recently did a feature piece on insulation
comparisons.