Home insulation for better energy usage

There are plenty of great ways to save energy. Turn off the lights, use cold water to wash your clothes, buy some blankets… But sometimes saving energy isn’t about just doing less, but making the energy you have go further.

One of the ways your energy has to work the hardest is to heat and cool your home. And it has to work even more if the warm or cool air your HVAC provides is radiating out of the walls or leaking out of holes. So we’re gonna share some different options for insulating your home to make sure your energy isn’t being put toward wasted effort.

Insulation

Proper insulation is a big deal and it’s hard (but not impossible) to get right after your home is built. You’ll want to think ahead for this. But, if you’re in a home that is already built or purchasing one that’s been around for a while, we still have two options for after your home’s walls are already up.

If you’re trying to pick between options based on which is cheaper, remember that upgrading the type of insulation you use in favor of something more effective (even if it might be more expensive), is likely going to save you more money in the long term. And even if you just break even, you’re still doing mother earth a favor. And we like her.

So here are some of the different types of insulation:

Loose Fill

This is stuff you can blast into your walls. It’s one of the options available if your home is already finished. When you’re done, you’ll need to patch up the holes, but that’s a small inconvenience for the energy savings and the cozy reminder that you’re taking care of the earth and your house. Loose-fill is usually made up of a bunch of stuff, including fiberglass, cellulose, and some fire retardant. And, if you want to do it yourself, this method isn’t that expensive.

Batts

Batts are like big fluffy blankets that fit nicely between the studs in your walls. But they aren’t the kind you’d want to snuggle in during a movie. They’re made of fiberglass so that’d make for an itchy movie night.

Sprayed-on Fiber

This is like loose fill, but you can’t use it on walls that have already been plastered or have drywall up. So you’ll need to think ahead for this option. It uses the same insulation material, but with a little water and glue added in. It can get really good coverage from the sprayer to your wall. It is also better at covering any air leaks than loose-fill, but the overall performance is about the same. It’s up to you if you want to go through the extra trouble and added cost. Oh, and you probably shouldn’t do this one yourself. Hire a pro.

Rigid Panels

These are polyisocyanurate or polystyrene foam boards that have been extruded into panels and usually cost around $30 each. They are unique in that they can go on the outside of a house (over the studs but under your siding). Unless you live somewhere really cold, in which case you’ll want them inside the walls like most insulation where they can create a nice moisture barrier to hold the heat inside the home even better.

Expanding foam

This is one of the most fun options. You spray this on as a soft foam and it quickly forms into rigid insulation. You need to be a professional to do this, though. It costs more than most of the other options but is the best at plugging any leaks in the walls, which means better insulation. It’s cool, too. When it’s sprayed, it expands to 100 times its volume. (Seriously, look how fun this is!) It can even be used in homes with finished walls, so it’s a great option no matter how new or old your home is.

There are other ways you can improve your home insulation overall, such as checking the sealant around your doors and investing in double glazed windows. But your overall efficiency is going to be best served with proper insulation, properly installed. So look through the options above, speak to an expert, and pick the one that’s best for your home and budget.