Insulation acts as a thermal barrier, preventing heat flow in winter and keeping cool air from escaping in summer. This reduces energy consumption and lowers energy bills.
Additionally, insulation minimizes the use of fossil fuels for heating and cooling, decreasing carbon emissions. This contributes to environmental sustainability and a greener planet for future generations.
Save Money
Insulation reduces the need to use artificial heating and cooling, which saves energy and lowers utility bills. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency in a home or building. It is also a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which helps the environment by lowering the demand for fossil fuels.
Insulating different spaces in your house, such as the walls, floors, attic, and pipes, can make a difference in your overall energy consumption. However, it is important to keep in mind that insulation alone won’t be enough to optimize your home’s energy usage. In order to get the most out of your insulation, it needs to be paired with air sealing and other energy-efficient methods.
The main role of insulation is to create a barrier that limits heat transfer in and out of the living space. Without proper insulation, warm air escapes during the winter and outside air infiltrates in the summer, resulting in high energy usage and costly utility bills. Adding insulation and sealing air leaks will help you cut your energy bills significantly.
According to Remodeler Magazine’s annual “Cost vs Value” report, adding fiberglass attic insulation is the highest return on investment home improvement project. This is because the initial installation costs are offset by reduced energy bills and higher property values.
Increased Comfort
Whether your home is old or recently built, energy efficiency and insulation remain the best upgrade investments you can make. In fact, a recent GreenHomes assessment found that insufficient attic and wall insulation is the root cause of many homeowners’ discomfort issues and higher than needed heating and cooling costs.
By minimizing heat transfer, insulation reduces the need for your heating and cooling system to operate, significantly lowering your utility bills. This energy savings can help to offset the initial investment in insulation materials and installation.
In addition, insulation helps maintain consistent indoor temperatures and provides a more comfortable living space year round. It also acts as a sound barrier, limiting the transmission of external noises and allowing occupants to relax in a peaceful environment.
Insulation should go hand in hand with air sealing to optimize home comfort. Our Energy Assessors can identify areas where air leaks are present and recommend the best solutions to seal those leaks before installing insulation. Depending on location and household income, NYSERDA offers several programs to assist with air sealing and insulation including the Comfort Home and EmPower+ program. Learn more about these and other energy efficiency opportunities here.
Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Insulation acts as a thermal barrier, keeping buildings warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, decreasing energy consumption and significantly reducing utility bills. It also minimizes heating and cooling emissions and prevents a significant amount of energy waste.
This reduction in energy consumption decreases demand for fossil fuels, which leads to reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This is a vital step towards combating climate change and preserving ecosystems for future generations.
In addition to reducing the carbon footprint of your home or commercial building, insulation can be made with more sustainable materials such as sheep’s wool, recycled denim, and cellulose. These materials have a lower embodied energy and can be produced with less resource extraction, manufacturing, and transportation emissions.
Additionally, using phase change materials (PCMs) in insulation can help reduce the amount of energy used to regulate temperatures. PCMs are able to absorb, store, and release large amounts of heat energy at specific temperatures.
Investing in effective insulation can have significant environmental benefits, especially when combined with smart technology and sensors to maximize energy efficiency and reduce costs. Insulation is the unsung hero when it comes to green buildings and can reduce the need for fossil fuels, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. It can also improve indoor air quality by preventing pollutants and allergens from entering the building.
Increased Property Value
As the world shifts towards sustainability, property owners and buyers are increasingly seeking energy-efficient homes and buildings. These eco-friendly upgrades offer a unique combination of immediate rewards and long-term value, attracting homebuyers who want to reduce their carbon footprint while also reaping the financial benefits of energy efficiency.
One of the most effective ways to increase the value of a property is to install insulation. Insulation acts as a thermal barrier, keeping spaces warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, which can significantly reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills. In addition, it also improves comfort levels and can help with noise reduction.
By reducing the demand for fossil fuels, insulating a building can also contribute to environmental sustainability. Less energy usage means less dependence on fossil fuel power plants, which in turn leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions and a smaller carbon footprint.
When homeowners decide to sell their property, promoting the energy efficiency features of their home can attract qualified buyers and help them achieve a higher price for their house. This is because potential buyers will be aware of the significant savings they can make by lowering their energy usage. As a result, it’s important to highlight the benefits of energy efficient properties and provide potential buyers with estimates of how much they can save on their annual utility bills by making energy-efficient upgrades.