The 5 Benefits of Good Insulation

 

1. Reduction of Heat Loss:

 

For an average house with timber floor, installing insulation can reduce total house heat loss significantly: Insulation

 

Type                                                                             Average Reduction in Heat Loss

 

Underfloor insulation                                                                        8%

Wall insulation                                                                                    20%

Ceiling insulation                                                                               43%

Ceiling and underfloor insulation                                                  50%

Ceiling, underfloor and wall insulation                                         70%

Ceiling, underfloor and wall insulation + double-glazing          80%

 

N.B. These proportions are approximates and depend on the geometry of the house (e.g single or double story) and the climate (the colder the climate, the proportional heat loss through the roof reduces, and the proportional heat loss through the floor increases).

Source: From internal modeling undertaken by Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) in November 2008 to help determine the star bands for the Home Energy Rating System (HERS). The modeling used the AccuRate residential energy modeling software. 

 

2. Comfort:

 

The reduction in heat movement results in a home that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Insulation also provides a drier environment by preventing condensation. Condensation occurs on the inside surface of a roof or ceiling at any time when the temperature of the surface is at or below the dew-point of the air in contact with it. Insulation raises the temperature on the insulated surface above the dew-point temperature, thus inhibiting condensation. Insulation can also help reduce mould growing on the inside of your walls and ceilings.

 

3. Reduced Noise Levels:

 

Insulation is an excellent sound absorber. It works by forcing sound waves that travel through it to bounce off the millions of fibres the insulation is made up of. Every disruption to the sound wave causes it to loose energy and the sound becomes quieter. Good insulation will reduce the noise entering your house (traffic, machinery, wind) and the noise created within your house (TV, stereo, children, baby) making your home a quieter place.

 

4. Saving on Energy Costs:

 

A typical household of four people spends around $2,800 a year on energy, not including transport . Up to 40% of this energy is used to heat up or cool down your house. Insulating can cut the cost of this heating and cooling by up to 40 % depending on such factors as climate, type and size of home. Even if you insulate just your ceiling you can save 20-30% on heating and cooling bills. This is because heating and air conditioning units don’t have to run as hard or as long to achieve the desired temperature in the building. Based on the figures above, achieving a 40% reduction in heating/ cooling costs equates to $448 in energy savings per annum.

 

5. Helping The Environment:

 

Less energy spent heating and cooling home means less energy required from the power stations that burn fossil fuels to produce electricity. Coal fired generators are one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases and are responsible for generating one fifth of a contries total greenhouse gas emissions.