An energy audit is a thorough examination of your property to identify areas where you’re losing energy. It includes diagnostic testing to measure air leakage, locate missing insulation, and test the safety of heating systems.
Your professional energy assessment may suggest several projects for improving your building’s energy efficiency. Start with the ones that meet your budget and timeframe, and consider completing others in the future.
Insulation Materials
Regardless of the age of a building or how it’s been weatherproofed in the past, most homes could benefit from more insulation. In addition to saving money, a well-insulated home is also more environmentally friendly. Using energy efficient insulation reduces the demand for fossil fuels and helps to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
A professional energy audit will provide detailed information about how much energy is being used and where the inefficiencies are. Homeowners can then use the audit’s recommendations to improve their energy efficiency. For instance, they can replace old windows or add more attic insulation to take advantage of the natural tendency for hot air to rise in homes.
The best insulation materials have high R-Values and are tightly packed to prevent air leakage. They may come as dimensionally stable products such as boards and pipe sections or as flexible products like mats and felts. The R-Value is a measurement of the resistance to heat flow, which increases in direct proportion to the thickness of the insulation. Insulation material can be found in both cellulose and fiberglass, although cellulose is typically preferred due to its lower embodied energy and environmental impact.
Blown-In Insulation
Insulation helps keep your house at a comfortable temperature throughout the year. It prevents cold air from entering the home in winter and hot air from exiting the home in summer. The result is lower energy bills.
Its resistance to conductive heat flow is rated in a unit called R-value. This measurement varies depending on the type of insulation, thickness, and density. The higher the R-value, the better the insulating ability.
Blown-in cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper and wood products, with few synthetic processes or chemicals involved. It is also insect-repellant and acts as a fire retardant.
It also reduces the amount of pollutants emitted into the environment. This is because less fossil fuel is burned to produce the energy used in a home with adequate insulation. This leads to fewer carbon dioxide emissions and sulfur dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming and acid rain. A professional energy audit will help determine the best type of insulation for your home.
Foam Insulation
An energy audit helps businesses save on electricity bills and increase the value of their property. They analyze how much energy the building is using and identify the areas that need improvement. In addition, they help optimize airflow, improve equipment efficiency and ensure safety of employees.
During an energy audit, professionals inspect every nook and cranny of your home or business. They will use diagnostic testing like blower door tests to locate air leaks, check heating system safety and more. They will also look at the attic, basement and other insulated spaces to make sure they are properly sealed and insulated.
One of the most important things you can do for your home is to add more insulation. This will drastically cut your utility bills and reduce carbon emissions. This is why it’s so important to choose the right type of insulation for your home or business. Foam insulation is a great choice as it’s environmentally friendly and offers superior energy performance compared to other materials. It’s also insect-resistant and fire-retardant. Click here to learn more about how foam insulation can improve your home or business’s energy efficiency.
Batt Insulation
Usually made of fiberglass, it is rolled into long rolls and cut into different widths to fit between the framing studs and joists in walls, ceilings and attics. It can be faced with paper or left unfaced. It is often used in new construction, as it is the easiest and cheapest way to insulate a house. It also has the advantage of being fire resistant and sound absorbing.
Fiberglass batt insulation is a common product that can be found in most homes. It does not have as high of an R-value as foam insulation, but it is cheaper and does work well to slow down the flow of air from room to room and retain existing heat.
The best way to determine if you need new insulation is by having a professional conduct a home energy audit. They will use specialized equipment like a blower door to locate possible air leaks in your home. They will also visually inspect your current insulation and windows. This will help determine if your home needs additional insulation and where it should go.
Spray-In Insulation
Insulation is designed to prevent air movement, so it creates an effective barrier that stops a good deal of energy loss. Some types, including spray foams, also seal air leaks and help to save energy in hot climates by reducing the use of cooling systems.
Noise reduction: Insulation helps to reduce the transmission of outside noises into the home, especially in noisier urban regions. Healthy homes: Insulation acts as a moisture retarder, which helps to avoid mold and mildew growth and rot of wood structures, and improves indoor air quality.
Long-term savings: In the long run, insulation helps to significantly lower energy bills, and can increase resale value. Greener building: By reducing the need for fossil fuels for heating and cooling, insulation contributes to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
An energy audit will assess your home for insulation and its current performance using tools like the blower door test, which locates air infiltration by depressurizing the house. After an inspection, the professional can provide recommendations for boosting insulation to save energy and money. Infrared scanning can also be used to identify thermal defects in the building envelope, which may be unnoticeable to the naked eye.