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If you pay the utility bills for your household, we don’t have to tell you how costly energy use can be. Did you know heating and cooling account for 50% to 70% of the energy used in the average American home? And, with summer here, chances are your air conditioning unit is going to get a real workout … or is it? If you want to reduce your energy bills, then decreasing the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling your home is one of the best places to start. Yet as each summer seems to be getting hotter, how are you supposed to decrease the use of your air conditioning? We have a simple answer: insulation. By properly insulating your home, you will be well on your way to keeping your home a nice temperature, and significantly reducing your energy bills. In this article, we will discuss what you need to know about insulation, and how it can work to reduce your energy bills this summer season and throughout the entire year.
What is Insulation?
Insulation is a material that acts as a barrier to heat loss and heat gain. Basically, it inhibits the transfer of heat. In winter, it stops the cool air from outside coming inside. During summer, insulation helps trap cool, conditioned air inside the home while resisting the heat from outdoors. How does this reduce your energy bills? Simple: it cuts the frequency and duration of time you use your home’s heating and cooling systems.
While insulation is one of the most cost-effect ways to make your home energy-efficient all year round, it can also reduce the amount of condensation in your home. This means it reduces mold, dampness and other unwanted air pollutants floating around your home.
There are four standard types of insulation used in residential buildings:
- Blanket insulation: Filled with mineral fibers, including rockwool and fiberglass.
- Polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam insulation: Sprayed into the crevices and cavities of a home by a professional installer.
- Loose fill insulation: Consisting of cellulose, rockwool and/or fiberglass, contained in pellets or fibers and installed with pneumatic tools.
- Rigid insulation: Typically packaged in boards or pipe fittings and used to insulate wall sheaths and foundations.
Where Does Insulation Go?
In residential homes, insulation is typically used in roofs, ceilings, walls and floors.
Choosing the Right Energy Efficient Insulation
There are many types of insulation, and the type of insulation you choose will greatly depend on the specific needs of your home. Furthermore, each type of insulation comes with its own R-value, which measures the materials resistance to heat. The more resistant it is, the more warmth it keeps inside. In other words, the higher the R-value, the greater your energy savings and the lower your utility bills will be. When shopping around for energy efficient insulation, always look at the R-value and if in doubt, hire a home improvement contractor who will be able to offer you professional advice on the type of insulation your home needs.
Choosing the Right Energy Efficient Insulation
There are many types of insulation, and the type of insulation you choose will greatly depend on the specific needs of your home. Furthermore, each type of insulation comes with its own R-value, which measures the materials resistance to heat. The more resistant it is, the more warmth it keeps inside. In other words, the higher the R-value, the greater your energy savings and the lower your utility bills will be. When shopping around for energy efficient insulation, always look at the R-value and if in doubt, hire a home improvement contractor who will be able to offer you professional advice on the type of insulation your home needs.
Additional Benefits of Insulation
While reducing your energy bills is perhaps one of the greatest benefits of insulation, there are actually, many more advantages to insulating your home. Below are just a few:
- Insulation prevents excess moisture and condensation build up in your home.
- Insulation reduces the amount of emissions and pollutants your home emits (basically, it’s very environmentally friendly).
- Insulation is an added safety precaution for you, your family and your home.
- Insulation reduces the noise levels that escape and infiltrate your home.
- Insulation can increase the value of your home.
- Insulation helps provide fire protection in firestop systems, grease and air ducts, and in electrical and communications conduits and cables.
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