Having proper insulation in our home is important to prevent air from escaping through the doors and windows. Without being equipped with it typically leads to a huge waste of energy, causing our heating and cooling system to run harder that enlarge our carbon footprint, and consequently affecting the environment. Green Energy Solutions Loma Linda considers that for being energy efficient, insulating homes should be a priority of homeowners followed by an energy audit.
The Popular Types of Insulation
The materials of Insulation are available in a range of options. Here are the most common types.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is the most popular type of insulating material. Fiberglass insulation is cost-effective compared to other kinds of materials for insulating in terms of its high thermal resistive capacity. Being non-combustible, it is less likely to lead to fire hazards.
Mineral Wool
Typically mineral wool refers to a series of different categories of insulation materials. For example, 1) glass wool which is produced from recycled glass, 2) rock wool which is an outcome of basalt and finally 3) slag wool, a product made from the slag from steel. Since most mineral wool types don’t have additives that make them resistant to fire, using them in areas prone to overheating can be risky. However, in general, they are not combustible. Mineral wool comes with an R-value varying between R-2.8 to R-3.5.
Cellulose
Most possibly Cellulose insulation is among the most biodegradable forms of insulating material. They are produced from recycled paper, cardboard, or equivalent materials. Cellulose is an excellent choice because they are minimally prone to fire hazard. Their resistance value is R-3.1 and R-3.7.
How can Insulation Make Our Home More Energy Efficient
As stated above, insulation is an effective way to stop air leakage that takes place through the gapping of windows and doors.
Thus, it has the potential to lessen the amount of wasted energy. Thereby, having insulation stops our heating system from over-functioning during the summer days to keep our space cool. Green Energy Solutions Loma Linda notes that insulation can equally boost the efficiency level of our HVAC systems as it prevents outside air from blocking its filters with debris and dust. Clogging of filters typically makes an appliance inefficient and requires more energy for proper functioning.
This is where insulation comes to play efficiently while lowering utility bills. With this, we can save the cost of our heating and cooling systems by up to the extent of 15%. Apart from this, insulating a home can heat our home uniformly while lessening drafts and humidity. It can equally boost the quality of air by restricting the amount of dirt and dust entering our homes. Finally, because insulation materials are sound-absorbent, they also prevent outside noises and keep our room calm and cool.
Characteristics of High-Quality Insulating Material
Before choosing, we need to ensure the insulating material possesses the characteristics below:
- High-level insulating resistance
- Even thickness as it offers uniformity in electrical and thermal features
- Minimal thermal expansion
- High thermal strength
- Must be resistant to oils, gas fumes, oils, and acids
- High mechanical strength
- Super thermal conductivity
- Low permittivity
