subject: Comfortable and energy efficient homes [print this page] Comfortable and energy efficient homes Comfortable and energy efficient homes
There are many an energy-efficient ways that have been put in use lately, in order to reduce the carbon footprint. However, the potential of energy efficient homes and work spaces has not yet been fully tapped, to counter global warming.
There are many ways to make an energy-efficient home that not only has positive effects on the environment but also on your pocket. Insulation is one of the many viable solutions for increasing home efficiency. Insulation restricts the air flow between your home and the outsides. This enables the installed heating devices to warm your home within lesser time and while consuming a comparatively reduced supply of electricity.
Ceiling, wall and floor insulation ensures that the heating effect achieved via these devices is not lost to the surroundings. The installed insulation protects the users from both the hot and cold weather outside. Apart from this, the fire-retardant properties of insulation allow it to serve the purpose of a firestop as well.
There is a wide range of insulation and Firestop solutions that are available in the market today. Floor insulation is one of the most extensively employed since not only it saves you the pain of walking on a cold floor on a winter morning, but also helps in reflecting back heat that would otherwise be lost with materials like foil.
Floor insulation, in its most basic form can be done by simply covering the floor with a carpet, however, specialized materials are available that provide more sophisticated and efficient floor insulation. Floor insulation should not be neglected since if the climate below the flooring is not controlled then it would negate the effects of any other kind of insulation installed.
Floor Insulation can be installed in a variety of ways depending on the typical requirements of the space. The spaces between the joists can simply be filled with appropriate insulating material for sealing sources of heat loss. On the other hand, if increased insulation is required then rolls or batts of insulating material can be employed.
Apart from installing insulation, there are many other measures to enhance the energy-efficiency of the house, Duct Repair being one of them. For an air conditioner to work properly it is essential for the ducting system to be sealed tightly. However, since this part of the machinery is not mechanized like others, with prolonged use, it becomes loose. As a result of this, increased amount of energy is consumed by the air- handler unit to create similar pressure as before leading to higher electricity bills.
Therefore, duct repair forms an essential part of building an energy efficient home.
