Are you thinking about adding insulation to your home? You might be unsure about this product’s effect on the environment and your energy bills. Here, we’ll share some insulation statistics to clear up any misunderstandings.
Insulation Often Contains Recycled Content
One primary purpose of installing insulation is to reduce your home’s environmental impact by decreasing your energy use. But what about the environmental friendliness of the insulation itself? You’ll be pleased to learn that many types of insulation contain recycled content, making them eco-friendly. Here are some examples:
- Cellulose insulation consists of about 85 percent recycled paper products.
- Mineral wool contains an average of 75 percent post-industrial recycled content. It also doesn’t require the use of chemicals to make it fire resistant.
- Fiberglass insulation is made from at least 20 to 30 percent recycled glass content.
Insulation Reduces Home Energy Consumption
Of all the different ways to save energy—such as turning off the lights when you leave a room, unplugging unused electronic devices and adjusting the thermostat setting— the most effective option is to install insulation! Here are some insulation statistics to prove it:
- On average, heating and cooling account for 54 percent of a home’s annual utility bills.
- Uninsulated floors waste up to 10 percent of your home’s heating bills.
- Insulating the basement walls or slab foundation can reduce heating costs by 10 to 20 percent, especially in cold climates.
- You can reduce heat loss in your home by 67 percent by installing wall insulation where there previously was none.
- You can decrease heating and cooling costs by up to 40 percent by installing adequate attic insulation.
- Because of these impressive savings, the cost of installing insulation pays for itself in about five to six years.
Insulation Effectiveness Varies
When you install insulation, the goal is to reach a certain level of thermal resistance, or R-value, to keep warm air in during the winter and out during the summer. To determine the effectiveness of an insulating product, just look at the label. There, you’ll find the R-value. The higher this number is, the better the material is at slowing hot air attempting to pass through it. Here are some insulation statistics to consider:
- Fiberglass batts typically range in R-value from R-2.75 to R-5.25 per inch.
- Cellulose inhibits airflow with an R-value of R-3.6 to R-3.8 per inch.
- Cotton batts are available with an R-value of about R-3.4 per inch.
- Polyurethane spray foam ranges from about R-3.6 per inch for low-density, open-cell foam to R-5.5 to R-6.5 per inch for high-density, closed-cell foam.
- Rigid foam board can be made from polyisocyanurate (polyiso), extruded polystyrene (XPS) or expanded polystyrene (EPS). Depending on the material, rigid foam has an R-value of R-3.8 to R-8 per inch.
Install Insulation in Minneapolis-St. Paul
With these insulation statistics in mind, it’s clear that every building needs an adequate layer of the fluffy stuff. Contact Metro Home Insulation today, and we’ll arrange an inspection for your Minneapolis-St. Paul home to determine if you could benefit from adding a little more insulation!
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