Insulating a home is important in order to protect it from damage caused by extreme weather conditions. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat flows from warmer to cooler places until there is no longer a temperature difference. This means that in winter the heat in your home flows directly from all heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, basements, and even to the outdoors. In the cooling season, heat flows from outdoors to the interiors of your home. Insulation creates a barrier that prevents the heat or cool air to enter or escape the home. This means your home maintains the same temperature even in cold or hot weather. It also reduces noise pollution. Moreover, it helps save a lot on energy costs as it needs very little additional heating and cooling.
Selecting the best type and form of insulation for your home depends on many factors like your climate, the R-value you hope to achieve, whether you are insulating an existing or new home. Here are a few ways to properly insulate your home to make it more energy efficient.
Roof and Loft Insulation
According to National Insulation Association, 25 percent of the heat loss in a poorly insulated home is through the roof. Insulating your loft, attic, or roof is a simple, effective way to prevent this heat loss. According to Energy Saving Trust, loft insulation is effective for at least 40 years and should pay for itself many times over. Some factors to consider for loft or roof insulation are storage space, damp, condensation, flat roofs, etc. The most commonly used insulation for roofs and ceilings is blanket insulation, loose-fill, radiant barriers, reflective insulation systems, and foam boards.
Cavity and Solid Wall Insulation
Walls are generally of two types: Cavity and Solid. In cavity wall insulation the gap between the two walls is filled with an insulating material. This can reduce your heating costs by 15 percent. Solid walls let through twice as much heat as cavity walls and can be insulated internally or externally. For internal insulation, rigid insulation boards are fitted to the wall, or a stud wall is built and filled in with insulation material. Exterior walls are fitted with a layer of insulation material and then covered with a special type of render or cladding.
Double Gazing Windows and Doors
Double glazed windows have two layers of glass with a layer of inert gas sealed between them. Once sealed, this unit becomes airtight and creates nearly twice the insulation as single glazed units. The idea is to use the double panes of glass and the intermediate buffer to create a barrier that prevents the heat from escaping or entering. The many benefits of double gazing include energy efficiency, reducing noise pollution, UV rays protection, reducing condensation, etc.
Insulating the Floors
Most homes nowadays come with built-in floor and base insulation. However, older homes often need under floor insulations to prevent heat loss. You can insulate the floorboards with mineral wool insulation supported by netting between the joists in timber floors. However, concrete floors are insulated by laying rigid insulation on top or insulating them when they are replaced or remodeled.
Tank and Pipe Insulation
Insulating the tanks, pipes and radiators reduces the amount of heat lost. This helps reduce the energy costs and your water stays hot for a longer period. You can do this yourself by fitting a British standard jacket at least 75mm thick to insulate the hot water cylinder. Use a simple foam tube to cover the exposed pipes between the cylinder and the boiler.
Insulating the Air Ducts
A duct system is branching network of tubes in the walls, floors, and ceilings which carries air from the heaters or air conditioners to each room. If your air ducts are poorly sealed or insulated, they can lead to greater energy consumption and higher bills. Hence, insulating the air ducts is very important for energy efficiency. Thermal or fiberglass insulations are often easy to install. If you’re building a new home, place your ducts in conditioned spaces to avoid heat loss.