Insulation
Insulation
Though there are several major types of home insulation, most have one common factor, an R-value. An R-value is the thermal resistance factor that determines how well a material holds back heat. Typically the thicker the insulation, the higher the R-value and the better insulated is your home.
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- About Insulation
- How Insulation works? The Benefits and Types
- Showrooms- the location of quality products
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About Insulation
Why Insulate Your House?
Heating and cooling account for 50 to 70% of the energy used in the average home. Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes.
Insulation:
- Saves money and our nation's limited energy resources
- Makes your house more comfortable by helping to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the house
- Makes walls, ceilings, and floors warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer
The amount of energy you conserve will depend on several factors:
- Your local climate;
- The size, shape, and construction of your house;
- The living habits of your family;
- The type and efficiency of the heating and cooling systems;
- The fuel you use;
Once the energy savings have paid for the installation cost, energy conserved is money saved - and saving energy will be even more important as utility rates go up.
How Insulation works? The Benefits and Types
Heat flows naturally from a warmer to a cooler space. In winter, the heat moves directly from all heated living spaces to the outdoors and to adjacent unheated attics, garages, and basements- wherever there is a difference in temperature. During the summer, heat moves from outdoors to the house interior. To maintain comfort, the heat lost in winter must be replaced by your heating system and the heat gained in summer must be removed by your air conditioner. Insulating ceilings, walls, and floors decreases the heating or cooling needed by providing an effective resistance to the flow of heat.
Benefits of Insulation:
- A well-insulated building will protect you against high-temperatures in summer and cold temperatures in winter, making your home more comfortable all year round.
- A well-insulated building can enclose your living spaces, making them quieter by preventing noise from entering.
- Reduces build up of moisture from kitchens, bathrooms and general living, as well as external weather conditions, such as humidity and rain.
- Improves fire safety, by reducing air leakage that would otherwise feed a fire. Additionally lack of insulation can provide pathways along which fires can spread.
- Insulating your home will have a positive effect on the environment, due to the use of less energy to both heat and cool your property.
The various types of insulation material available, includes:
- Fibreglass: made from micron-thin strands of blown glass. Available in both batts and blanket form, it can be used to insulate ceilings and walls. Fibreglass batt insulation is the most used thermal insulation material in home construction.
- Wool: made from new and waste wool from sheep, that is mechanically bonded together to form insulating batts and blankets (often combined with polyester).
- Polyester: a thermal bonded insulation material used for both domestic and commercial insulation applications. Made from 100% polyester fibre, there are no additives or other components used in the manufacturing process, specifically no fibreglass!
- Foils: foil insulation is made from layers of aluminum foil, air bubbles and wadding. It works by reflecting radiant heat. Foil insulation produces better results with less material than other types such as fiberglass, and also reduces the amount of vapor condensation.
- Air Cells: air cell Insulation is a Thermo Reflective insulation, and is a low volume, high performance insulation medium that combines the technology of reflective air spaces with a low emittance, enclosed air, thermal conduction barrier. Economically, air-cell insulation helps to reduce heating and cooling energy bills by up to 50% with its advanced thermal performance characteristics. Initial investments into insulating your roof, walls, and/or underfloor areas of your home with Air-Cell will deliver significant energy efficiency outcomes.
Showrooms- the location of quality products
To find your nearest retail showroom go to www.showrooms.com.au
and choose the relevant category.
