You can reduce your energy bills and improve the comfort of your home by having the proper insulation in place. Insualtion can help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer since it prevents the movement of heat between your home and the outside.

Using the right insulation can make your home more energy efficient and significantly lower your cooling and heating bills. When your home insulation is combined with an airtight structure it can lower your costs even more. Your insulation will be more effective if you choose the right type for your local climate and type of home.

The three most commonly used types of insulation are rigid foam, fiberglass rolls, and cellulose. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of insulation. There are many advantages to using fiberglass insulation. It will not shrink or burn, it repels insects, and it is made from silica which is an abundant resourse. Using fiberglass insulation also has its disadvanges. One of the main drawbacks to using fiberglass is the potential health hazards it poses. Fiberglass has been linked to both respiratory problems and cancer. There are different health issues associated with different manufacturers and products so you will need to do some research to find the safest types.

Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspapers or cardboard. It is readily available and a very green product. You do not have the health problems associated with fiberglass when you use cellulose. One of the main drawbacks of cellulose insulation is that it can hold moisture and can become a breeding ground for mold.

Rigid foam insulation has some of the highest R values out there. It is made from polymers and is water resistant. The three main types of rigid foam insulation are expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, and polyiscocyanurate. Each of these products will have a different R value and environmental rating.

Get Social, Bookmark Us!!:
  • del.icio.us
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Propeller
  • Technorati
  • LinkedIn
  • Live
  • MisterWong
  • StumbleUpon
  • Mixx
  • Sphinn
  • FriendFeed
  • MySpace
  • Ping.fm
  • Twitter
  • Wikio FR

Tagged with:

Filed under: Home Improvement

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!