What is one way you can improve both the comfort and energy efficiency of your home? The answer is insulation. Homeowners have a variety of choices when it comes to insulating their homes, and each type has its own benefits and drawbacks. Listed below are some of the main choices available when you are ready to insulate your home.
Cellulose
The primary material used in making cellulose insulation is recycled paper. In fact, this type has more recycled material than any other type. The manufacture of cellulose requires less energy and creates less pollution than wool or fiberglass.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural, renewable material. This type is made mostly of cotton, but also includes some flame retardant boron and polyester.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is made from silica and recycled glass. This type of insulation is required by the federal EPA to be made with at least 20 percent recycled material. Manufacture of fiberglass requires the burning of fossil fuels and produces air pollution.
Foam
This type of insulation has a greater impact on the environment than any of the other types. The process to manufacture it uses chemicals that contribute to ozone depletion and also requires natural gas and petroleum-based products.
Polyisocyanurate
This type is a foam board backed with foil that acts as a barrier to vapor. It is not the best type to use in damp areas, but is otherwise more environmentally friendly than foam.
Polystyrene
There are two kinds of polystyrene, extruded and expanded. Expanded is less expensive than extruded. The two types are known as beadboard and blueboard respectively.
Polyurethane
Spray polyurethane is a foam insulation that is sprayed into your walls through holes. It will not sag or settle and does not attract insects. It is also watertight, and after it dries, it will not affect air quality.
Mineral Wool
This type is made with strands of minerals. The U.S. EPA requires that it be made of at least 70 percent recycled materials.
For more information on the right type of insulation for your home and other home comfort issues specific to eastern North Carolina, please contact us at Jackson & Sons Heating and Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about insulation types and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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