Home Insulation Energy
Conservation
Although home heating oil prices
are presently relatively low,
this fact should not act as a
disincentive to making your house
as energy efficient as possible
by correctly insulating it.
Insulation provides two main
benefits: it reduces the flow of
thermal energy (heat) keeping
your house cooler in summer and
warmer in winter. Insulation has
another major benefit, it reduces
sound transmission, both from
nearby houses but also from noise
created in your own house from
home appliances such as your
heating system, washing matching
as well as TVs and radios
Three main types of insulation
are used in modern houses.
Fibrous insulation uses narrow
fibers bonded together and which
trap air between them. Examples
of fibrous insulation include
fiberglass blankets and boards.
In the past asbestos wool was
often used as insulation but
health concerns now prevent its
use in the home.
Cellular insulation again uses
small pockets of air but now they
are trapped within tiny bubbles
or foams. A prime example of
cellular insulation is
polystyrene.
Fibrous and cellular insulation
reduce heat loss by absorbing
air, whereas radiant barriers and
coatings are composed of a
surface that reflects radiant
heat. Aluminum paint and metal
foil are examples of reflective
coatings.
One measure of the usefulness of
home insulation is given by the R
Value. "R" stands for resistance
to heat flow. The higher the R-
value, the more heat it can
resist.
Whilst all homes needs adequate
ventilation, too much air passing
through your house can be a major
source of energy loss. The amount
of heat loss by air infiltration
can be reduced by:
Installing glass doors on
fireplaces.
Installing double or triple
glazing which will increase a
window's R Rating.
Making sure that weather-strips
around doors and windows are
still flexible and not allowing
cold air to enter the house.
You can significantly reduce your
heating bills by insulating the
water tank and pipes in the attic
of your house. Attic insulation
takes many forms.
Loose-fill insulation systems
include loose fibers or fiber
pellets that are blown into
building cavities or attics using
special pneumatic equipment.
Another form of loose fill
includes fibers that are sprayed
with adhesive to make them
resistant to settling. The blown
-in material can provide
additional resistance to air
infiltration if the insulation is
sufficiently dense.
Plastic foams provide rigid
insulation which is pressed or
extruded into board-like forms
and molded pipe-coverings. These
provide thermal and acoustical
insulation, strength with low
weight, and coverage with few
heat loss paths.
Blankets, usually sold in rolls,
are flexible products made from
mineral fibers. They are
available in widths suited to
standard spacing of wall studs
and attic or floor joists.
Continuous rolls can be hand-cut
and trimmed to fit.
Polyurethane foam insulation can
be applied by a professional
applicator using special
equipment to meter, mix, and
spray into place. Polyurethane
foam can also help to reduce air
leaks.
Reflective aluminum foils are
effective in reducing downward
heat flow. Reflective systems are
typically located between roof
rafters, floor joists, or wall
studs.
By maximizing the energy
efficiency of your house, you
save on utility bills in the long
term and also make a small but
positive contribution towards
reducing global warming.
Correctly and adequately
insulating your house is a vital
step in maximizing domestic
energy efficiency.
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