subject: Insulation: a wise remodeling option [print this page] Insulation: a wise remodeling option Insulation: a wise remodeling option
Most of the energy requirements of a living space come from either the heating or the cooling solutions installed in the household. Therefore, maximum energy efficiency in a home can only be achieved by optimizing the heating or cooling effects of these devices. This can be attained by minimizing the air flow between the indoors and the outdoors by employing insulation that is one of the most fundamental approaches to reduce exchange of heat between the two systems.
Insulation should ideally be integrated while constructing a home. However, it is also possible to install the insulation after completion. Retrofit insulation, as it is called, should be carried out once all the possible sources of heat loss have been identified.
If, however, you find the task daunting, you can always get an energy audit conducted, that will not only bring to fore, the optimal energy efficiency of your home but also help you recognize the problem areas that need to be taken care of. These include doors, windows, ceilings, floor and the less obvious ones like the small gaps at the place where the Weathervane has been installed, tiny holes and so on.
There are a number of factors that affect the type of insulating material to be employed and its quantity. Climate is one of the prime factors that decides the insulating material used. Another deciding element is the location that needs to be insulated viz wall, roof, floor, crevices & holes and so on. Apart from this, there are many other aspects that need to be considered while installing Retrofit Insulation like durability of the material, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, ease of replacement, toxicity and flammability among others.
There are three basic types of insulations that can be installed viz loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and double glazing. However, depending on the specific requirement and the location of installation you can opt for floor insulation, solid wall insulation, piping insulation, draught proof insulation and many more.
Loft insulation simply means covering your floor with a carpet- like insulating material. This increases energy efficiency by saving a good percentage of the total energy usage in your home. Cavity wall insulation, as the name suggests is used to seal a cavity with insulating material, hence covering smallest possible areas of heat loss. Double glazing is a form of insulation that covers the areas like windows by installing two layers of glass sheets, thus making your home insulated both weather- wise and acoustically.
Insulation increases theEnergy Efficiency of your home in more ways than one. Not only does it help to decrease your total bills but also provides you with a warm and peaceful home.
