Introduction
Do you want to know how you can save up to 67% on your home's heating costs? Isn't everyone concerned about rising electricity prices? Saving energy is actually a lot easier than you might think.
You should already be using LED light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs, and you should unplug appliances when not in use. These are both excellent methods for reducing energy waste, but they will not make a significant difference in your energy bill.
That isn't to say they aren't useful. Any energy-saving tips will end up saving you money in the long run while also being good for the environment. However, if you truly want to see a significant difference, you must ensure that your home's insulation is adequate.
That includes inspecting everything, from the insulation in the ceiling and walls to the effectiveness of your window treatments in insulating your home.
We don't spend much time thinking about it, but good insulation allows us to keep our homes at a more comfortable temperature all year. Insulation is commonly thought of as the "pink stuff in the ceiling," but there is much more to it.
Any gap in the wall allows air to escape, regardless of how well the insulation in the roof and walls is. The worst culprits in this area are the windows and doors, but there are a few things you can do to minimize energy loss in these areas.
Check The Weather-Stripping
Make sure your doors and windows are properly weather-stripped so that they are as well-insulated as possible. An annual inspection should be performed to ensure that the stripping is still in good condition and that the seals around the frame are still intact.
Window Treatments Window treatments do more than just look nice and keep the sun out of your windows. They also act as an additional layer of insulation between the pane and your home. According to a recent infographic created by blinds-2go.co.uk/, energy efficient windows can reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to 25%, making it a long-term investment.
If you are unsure where to begin, you could hire a professional to inspect the insulation in your home. It's a small investment that could save you a lot of money in the long run.
Consider More Energy-Efficient Alternatives
Storm doors are generally more energy efficient. If you have the funds, you should consider replacing older doors with better-insulated doors. Storm doors can save energy by regulating temperature inside a household for the whole year with the existence of extra layers of home insulation reduces heat loss in the winter and keeps cool air inside when it's warm outside.
Double Glazed Windows
This is an expense, but it will make a significant difference in heat loss through glass panes. Double glazed windows reduces your heat loss or gain by up to 30% comparable to the single-glazed windows. Double glazing works by trapping the air between the two layers.
How To Check The Status Of Your Existing Home Insulation
Insulation is critical for keeping one's home energy efficient when it's cool outside. Who wouldn't want to make their homes energy efficient right? Winters can be bitterly cold, so proper insulation is critical to keep the temperature level making the home warm and cozy to live in. With the proper amount of insulation, one can be certain that warmth will be retained in the home despite the extreme cold outside. During summer, insulation also plays a vital role in keeping you house cool and helps in saving energy by retaining the coldness inside the house. Appliances that regulates the warmth and coldness inside a household occupies a lot of energy affecting the environment. With insulation trapping the coldness and heatness inside the house, it save energy, hence, it also saves the environment. Without proper insulation, the energy present in the house may escape through the ceiling or the attic, resulting in an additional amount of energy being required to keep the house cool during the summer or warm during the winter.
1) Floor Installation: Another important consideration is floor insulation. There are numerous brands available, ranging from Celotex Insulation to Kingspan, Recticel, Rockwool, and Knauf, which are not only big brands in terms of material but also of very high quality. The best part about these brands is that they provide warranties and quick-fix solutions.
2) Wall insulation: When it comes to insulation, the walls are crucial. A large amount of heat can be retained with the proper amount of insulation, which is critical. In most cases, the walls are insulated with insulated plasterboard, which helps to keep the heat inside. There are a number of brands available that meet this requirement, but one of the best must be Kingspan K17 and Kingspan K18 from the Kingspan insulation stable.
3) Attic insulation: In the case of attics, a high-performance minimum dimension material that is not only durable but also recyclable and offers a high level of resistance to decay is required. For this type of application, well-known brands include Knauf Earthwool and Isover Spacesaver.
4) Roof insulation: Probably the most important aspect of insulation is roof insulation. And the quality of the insulation is so important that it determines how energy efficient the house will be.
To further prevent warm air leaks in the insulation, build a box around a fixture and then secure it with spray foam adhesive or an airtight membrane to ensure that any form of air leakage is securely closed. The junction boxes that house the switches and outlets must also be mounted on top of the perimeter walls to prevent any further energy leakage. This can be quite unsightly from an esthetic standpoint, so if you must cut in your switches and sockets, do so to minimize air leakage. Gaskets and receptacle trim plates can be installed under the switches in addition to the spray foams if necessary.
How to Check One's Current Insulation for Leakage
1) Understand your material: The difficulty level for this is low, and it is unquestionably a 'do-it-yourself' task. Before beginning the inspection, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the material that has been used for insulation. This assists in getting one's bearings when it comes to repairing or filling gaps as needed. Fiberglass and cellulose blown-in insulation are two of the most commonly used insulation types in the attic.
(a) Fiberglass insulation: Fiberglass insulation is a lightweight, soft insulation that will not settle over time. Despite being the most common type of insulation, it is not as beneficial or energy-efficient as cellulose installation.
(b) Cellulose insulation: Cellulose insulation is primarily made of recycled paper. Because cellulose insulation is much denser and is blown in much more loosely than fiberglass insulation, it tends to settle down a little more! It has the advantage of being environmentally friendly and having a higher insulation rate due to the fact that it is a non-toxic recycled product. It is also very effective at slowing the flow of air, which directly translates to greater energy efficiency during cool weather. The disadvantage is that it is a fire hazard and thus must be treated with a flame retardant to keep the fire at bay.
In some cases, batts or insulation rolls may be used to insulate attics. The issue with these is that they can tear and require the services of a professional to replace. If the budget allows, rigid board insulation such as Celotex or Kingspan, as well as spray foam insulation, should be used.
2) Ask questions to determine if there is enough insulation: Once the material used for insulation has been determined, all that remains is to determine if there is enough insulation in place. To do so, use a straight ruler to measure the average insulation depth and calculate the appropriate R-value. The R-value is a measurement of the ability of the insulation to resist the amount of heat passing through it. It is preferable to have a higher R-Value when it comes to insulation in order to have better thermal performance. The depth of one's insulation is heavily influenced by the region in which one lives, and the deeper the insulation, the colder the place. It is also necessary to ensure that the insulation is evenly distributed and that there are no gaps.
3) Installation: This is a moderately difficult task. If the insulation is in a state of disarray, it is always best to hire a professional to replace it. If not, it is possible to do it on one's own.
To begin the insulation process, use an insulation blower if blowing in cellulose, which tends to break apart any insulation and pushes it using a hose and air. However, if one is doing it themselves, proper installation care must be taken. This headache can be completely avoided with the assistance of a professional.
