Ninety percent of all U.S. homes are under insulated, according to a new report released by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA). The report pulled data from the 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey and used insulation estimation techniques by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Jonathan Levy, the lead researcher on the investigation team, said that if all U.S. homes were fitted with insulation up to the standards of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code, electricity use nationwide would drop by around 5 percent, and natural gas by 10 percent.

Curt Rich, President and CEO of NAIMA, commented on the importance of insulation, especially with the upcoming fall season.

“The fall is when many homeowners around the country begin thinking about home improvements to increase comfort and reduce their energy bills as temperatures drop come winter,” Rich said. “Research like this should reinforce our message to homeowners, and to policymakers, that added insulation has real and significant benefits.”