• Traditional fiberglass batting is just one of your options when it comes to insulating your attic.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Whether you're going green or just buttoning up your home for cold nights, you can find an attic insulation that will fit your needs. Air from outside often sneaks into your house through the attic, changing the temperature and increasing the workload on your home's furnace. Adding insulation to your attic can reduce these problems and make your home more energy efficient, saving you money in the long run.
  
  

Fiberglass

• Made from spun glass, fiberglass insulation is one of the most common and inexpensive attic insulating options. Fiberglass insulation comes in both batting, which you can cut and install yourself, or loose fill, which is blown into the wall cavity and installed by professionals. The R- value, or efficiency, of fiberglass insulation varies, depending on the type of insulation and typically ranges from R-2.2 to 4.2 per inch. Lower R-values are usually for loose-fill forms of fiberglass insulation.
  
  

Cellulose

• If you're going green, try cellulose insulation. Typically composed of 85 percent recycled newspaper and 15 percent natural fire-retardant borate, cellulose insulation is typically blown into the wall cavity as a loose fill. Cellulose insulation is environmentally friendly, has a price tag similar to fiberglass insulation and often has a higher R-value than fiberglass, according to the This Old House website.
  
  

Cotton

• Cotton is a green option that you can install yourself. Cotton insulation is made from textile scraps, such as denim, and typically comes in a batting form. Like cellulose, cotton insulation is treated with a fire-retardant chemical. A relatively low-chemical option, cotton is often used as an insulation by homeowners with health-related concerns, according to This Old House. Cotton typically has an R-value of about R-3 per inch, and the cost varies, depending on the manufacturer.
  
  

Sheep's Wool

• If you want a low-chemical green option other than cotton, install sheep's wool insulation. Formed into batting or loose fill, sheep's wool is an environmentally friendly option. You can install the batting yourself. Although it's a relatively low-chemical insulation, sheep's wool is typically treated to prevent moth infestation and mildew.
  
  

Mineral Wool

• Mineral wool insulation comes in both batting and rigid board form. Made from basalt rock and recycled slag, which is a by-product of metal smelting, mineral wool is naturally resistant to pests and fire. It is also very sound absorbent.
  
  

Foam

• If your attic walls are already closed, use foam. Foam insulation comes in both spray-in and blown-in applications. The R-value of foam insulation varies, depending on the type of foam used, and can range from about R-3 per inch to R-6.