Why Attic Insulation Is So Important
Insulation functions by providing a continuous boundary of the “building envelope” between conditioned indoor spaces and unconditioned outdoor spaces. Low levels of insulation, plus gaps and voids in the insulation materials, provide pathways for heat and air to easily flow into or out of a home. Approximately 40 percent of feeling physically comfortable is due to radiant heat exchange between our bodies and the surrounding interior surfaces. Improving your residential insulation decreases this radiant heat exchange, keeping a more consistent level of comfort throughout a house. When applied to the interior of walls and crawl spaces, injection foam insulation reduces air leaks and temperature transfer from the outside environment to the inside of your house drastically.
Lowered Utility Bills
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Building Technology’s top recommendation to help consumers lower energy bills is adding insulation. Most homes in the United States are not well insulated. Older homes are especially vulnerable, leading to high heating and air-conditioning bills. Having an energy-efficient home begins with proper levels of insulation. Insulation in your walls and attic keep the living space conditioned and allow your Heating and Air Conditioning source to run more efficiently, thus reducing your energy consumption. When homes are sufficiently insulated, it takes less energy to heat and cool them than if they were poorly insulated.
Comfort
Is your house cold in the winter and hot in the summer? Is the temperature upstairs between 8 to 12 degrees different from the temperature downstairs? Insulating your home will help keep your living space or “Comfort Zone” constant throughout your home. This makes for a more comfortable living space throughout your house.
Increased Resale Value
Installing valid insulation levels can make your home more appealing to potential buyers. 86% of Americans would choose one home based on its energy efficiency.
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Properly insulating homes worldwide would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 293.5 Billion pounds over ten years.
The reduction of energy consumption reduces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. NAIMA calculates that insulated buildings in the United States reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 780 tons annually. According to two studies done by Harvard University’s School of Public Health, if all single families in the U.S. lived inadequately insulated homes, each year there would be:
- 240 fewer premature deaths
- 110,000 fewer restricted-activity days per year
- 6,500 fewer asthma attacks
Investing in spray foam insulation and/or sealants is not only an easy building decision but one that will pay for itself in energy savings. If you would like to find an authorized ArmorThane foam applicator click here. If you would like to learn how to become an ArmorThane certified foam applicator click here.
