subject: Home Insulation: Essential For Every Household [print this page] In addition, purchasing and installing insulation at home may also earn you rebate on the overall project costs. The recent Home Star or the Cash for Caulkers program, offers financial incentive to consumers for household's energy efficiency improvements. However, before you install insulation, it is advisable that you get a thermal imaging of your house done by a reliable builder as per the local building codes, to know about the amount of insulation required.
Although, insulation of attics and outside walls can substantially reduce energy loss, there are other parts of the house which needs to be insulated for optimum energy conservation. Other parts where retrofit insulation might be needed includes cathedral ceilings, cavity walls, knee walls, basement, dormers, space between interior walls, ceilings as well as floors over unheated spaces, and many more. The insulation requirement varies from one home to home, depending upon several factors including type of construction, local climate and insulating material.
There are different types of insulation material available in the market, varying in terms of sizes, thickness and R-values. Insulation is identified in terms of R-values, higher the R-value better the insulating property of that material. Apart from R-values, quality and effectiveness are other important factors which you must consider before you select any of the insulation material.
Fiberglass, cellulose, mineral (rock and slag)wool, cotton and foam. There are different types of insulation, including loose fill, spray on, rigid board, batts and blanket. You need to wisely select the types of insulation and material depending upon the area and amount of insulation needed, as per the house's Thermal Imaging. Moreover, appropriate material and correct installation plays a significant role in Retrofit Insulation, which helps you optimize energy conservation and save on electricity bill, along with making the house comfortable.
