The cost of heating or cooling your home is probably your biggest energy expense. A one-time investment in insulation will save you money every year and will also keep out unwanted noise.
If you’ve ever opened up the wall of a home built before about 1950, you’ve probably been shocked to find little or no insulation—or at best some crumpled newspapers. And even the earliest serious attempts at insulation with fiber glass look quaint now. Cavities were often only partially filled. Water from outside often leaked in around windows and doors and damaged the insulation. Of course, homes were so leaky prior to the 1960s that walls dried out quickly, so mold wasn’t a big problem. The rules of the game are very different today. Homes are built tight—with no tolerance for sloppy insulating.
Building scientists (a new breed of experts) now have a deep understanding of how insulation works. They’ve learned that factors such as air infiltration, dampness and age can dramatically affect performance. But they also recognize that insulation is part of an energy saving system, not a standalone solution. Good results can be achieved with any insulating material, if it’s combined with the right housewraps, tapes and construction details. Here’s an overview of the latest advances in insulation technology.
FIBER GLASS INSTALLER FRIENDLY
Fiber glass insulation in batt form is probably the most familiar insulating product. Changes in recent years have affected the composition of chemical binders that hold the product together, along with the size of the glass fibers. Many brands have removed or reduced toxins such as formaldehyde from their products. Some of the largest manufacturers of fiber glass products now offer hybrid systems that include an air-sealing component. They have improved the performance and handling of blown-in fiber glass, and added to the percentage of recycled content in all product lines (up to 40%).
FIBER GLASS INSULATION -
VIRTUES
> Renewable and recyclable
> Familiar to contractors
> Field proven for decades
CAVEATS
> Requires careful installation
> May need an additional air infiltration barrier
GLOSSARY OF TERMS KNOW THE LINGO
> R-Value
A measure of how effectively a material resists heat flow. Thus, higher numbers are better. For a full list comparing various types of insulation, visit
www.coloradoenergy.org.
> Batt
A length of insulation that is precut to fit certain wall cavity dimensions. Typically sold in a pre-packaged roll.
> Unfaced/Faced Insulation
Faced insulation (typically a fiberglass batt) includes a vapor retarder on the interior face that restricts movement of moist air into wall cavities.
> Ridge Vent
An opening covered by a rain-proof vent that follows the peak of the roof, typically required by code. Some insulating methods, however, negate the need for a ridge vent. Clear it with your local code official first.
> Blow-In
Method of introducing loose fiberglass, cellulose or mineral wool to framing cavities or attic space, typically using a machine with an attached hose.
> Blower Door
Equipment used to test the effectiveness of a home’s insulation and air sealing systems.
> Stud Cavity
The space between the vertical members of a conventionally framed wood or lightweight steel home. Common stud spacings include 16” and 24” on center (of stud).
ECOBATT FROM KNAUF
This fiber glass insulation has an unusual brownish color, in part because the manufacturer wants to highlight the fact that it does not use the usual petroleum-based chemicals found in most fiber glass. Instead, Knauf has replaced the usual phenol, formaldehyde, acrylics and dyes with bio-based binders. As a result, the environmental impacts of creating EcoBatt’s binder agent have been reduced by as much as 70%.
www.ecobatt.us
JOHNS MANVILLE SPIDER
A formaldehyde-free spray-in fiber glass insulation, JM Spider is applied slightly wet so that it dries quickly. It provides up to R-23 insulating value in a 2x6 frame cavity. Cavities can be filled very quickly, in as little as two to three hours for a 2,700-sq.-ft. home.
www.jmhomeowner.com
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