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The United States Department of Energy, Energy Efficiently, and Renewable Energy, states that proper heat flow is essential to reducing the expenditures on electricity used to power air conditioners and heating systems.
When heat flow is controlled in the summer, the air conditioner does not have to be used as much. When a home is well insulated, and does not lose its heat in the winter, the heater does not have to work as hard. Part of this depends on proper installation of insulating materials. Another part of this depends on using energy efficient insulation with a high R-value.
The R in R-value represents the material’s ability to resist heat. The higher the R-value, the more energy saving the insulation is.
There are many different types of energy saving insulation you can buy.
Rigid board insulation is made from Polyurethane sheets. It may have a rating of R-8 per inch. It is used a great deal for roofs and walls because it is made in the shape of boards. Typically it is attached to the outside wall of a house. This helps strengthen the wall and also to create a thermal barrier between the wood in the wall and the siding. Heat loss is greatly reduced due to this thermal gap.
Some of these energy efficient insulation boards are laminated so they can act as sheathing as well as insulation for a house.
Another kind of energy saving insulation is spray foam insulation. It sprays onto a surface as a liquid. Then, it expands to 100 times its original size. Typical R-values for spray foam insulation are R-9 per inch. Even better, it acts as a sealant as it expands and hardens, blocking air leaks. This is a very costly kind of insulation, but it is also the most effective in traditional frame houses.
The most popular forms of spray foam are petroleum based. Naturally this has sparked some environmental debate. New forms of spray foam, energy efficient insulation have emerged that offer superb thermal resistance combined with a high degree of environmental friendliness. One type is made from soy beans and features a 96 percent organic content.
Studies have shown these green products to be just as effective as petroleum based products. They have also indicated that they create healthier home environments due to their lack of toxic chemicals.
Another type of energy efficient insulation is called structurally insulated panels, also known as SIPs or ICFs. Many believe these are the very best way to seal a home against thermal transfer. They are made from two sheets of OSB pressed around spray foam insulation in the middle. This creates a structural advantage as well as an advantage in insulation. There is no need to create additional framing because they can fit right in with the way a home is built if they are installed correctly.
SIPs can be rather expensive, and many contractors still have not gotten used to them. It is best to talk to your contractor at length about these various forms of energy efficient insulation and make certain your are satisfied with their level of expertise in working with these materials in homes like yours.
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