subject: Improve the environment and your home efficiency [print this page] Improve the environment and your home efficiency
A number of people are opting to construct and maintain energy- efficient homes to ensure that the environment remains clean and green. Insulation also falls in the same category of green solutions that can help you save on money as well as the precious natural resources.
Insulation refers to sealing the different sources of heat exchange in the house, like the atrium and the windows. Insulation minimizes the effect of outside weather on the inside temperature, thereby ensuring that you dot have to excessively use your heating and cooling equipment. The consequent reduction in utility bills helps you to enhance your net savings.
Apart from this, the reduction in energy consumption leads to more efficient use of the fast-depleting natural resources. Not only this, since lesser amounts of fuel are burnt, the level of carbon- dioxide in the air also comes down considerably. Therefore, home insulation is not only good for your savings but also for the environment.
Many a green insulation solutions are present in the market today. One of the most common modes of home insulation available includes fiber insulation. The most popular materials used in this method is cellulose, which is a natural product obtained from recycled paper. Cellulose is generally used in the 'loose fill' form, thus ideal for retrofitting purposes. It provides with good insulating properties and is equally good, if not better than its traditional counterparts. Being a natural product, cellulose is readily available everywhere and is affordable as well. Not only this, the removal and disposal of cellulose insulation is equally hassle-free.
Apart from cellulose, cotton can also be used for home insulation purposes. This material provides for excellent insulating properties. Moreover, the recycling process is also comparatively more energy-efficient than that employed for cellulose. It is a good alternative, especially in colder regions.
One of the most efficient and effective green insulation products is spray foam insulation. It is an organic oil based product and can be conveniently sprayed wherever required. The consistency of this material allows it to expand and tightly seal all the gaps and crevices.
Being an oil-based product, spray foam is also resistant to water. Since, moisture cannot be trapped, spray foam does not allow any kind of organic growth either. Therefore, it not only provides for a comfortable but for a hygienic living space as well.
Insulation helps you to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the house. Structures like an atrium help circulate the air throughout your home, thus leading to proper ventilation. This not only prevents any kind of organic growth but also maintains the uniformity of temperature throughout the house.
