The Role of Spray Foam Insulation in Energy Efficiency
With the cost of living on the rise, reducing energy costs has never been more important. The type of insulation you choose for your home has a huge impact on your energy consumption and monthly bills. This is true in any season, whether you're heating your home in the winter or trying to keep cool in the summer. When energy efficiency is the goal, one of the best insulation options is spray foam insulation. Keep reading to find out why.
What is spray foam insulation?
Spray polyurethane foam is an alternative to traditional insulation such as fibreglass. The product is made from two materials, isocyanate and polyol resin, which expand upon application and conform to the surface where it is sprayed. Spray foam has the unique ability to create an airtight seal, filling and eliminating gaps and cracks while being a highly efficient insulator.
Reduces Air Leakage
Even in a well-insulated building, as much as 40% of its energy can be lost through gaps and cracks in the insulation. Attics, crawl spaces, and basements are some of the biggest culprits for air leaks. Air leakage occurs when outside air enters, and conditioned air leaves your house. These air leaks waste energy while driving up your utility bills. Spray foam offers the solution. Because of its ability to seamlessly close up all nooks and crannies in your home, spray foam insulation minimizes virtually all air infiltration, stopping air from escaping and wasting valuable resources. High-quality closed-cell spray foam has been shown to provide energy savings of up to 50% or more.
High R-Value
The R-value is a unit of measurement, determining an insulating material's resistance to heat flow, or its thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the greater the material's insulating effectiveness. Closed-cell spray foam has an R-value of 7, making it the highest R-value amongst several popular types of insulation currently used. A larger R-value means your insulation is working harder to prevent heat loss. In other words, a higher R-value directly correlates to better energy efficiency (and lower energy costs!)
More Environmentally Friendly
Spray foam insulation is a viable and sustainable choice. Spray foam helps to reduce energy consumption in your home, making it a greener, more environmentally friendly option. Spray foam is also long-lasting, resisting traditional wear and tear. It's very possible that your spray foam insulation will even last for the lifetime of your home! Any damage, or pieces that do need replacing can be done in small quantities, so minimal waste is incurred.
Reducing your energy consumption has never been more important. Not only is it better for the environment, but an efficient insulator will make you and your family more comfortable while significantly lowering your monthly utility bills. Are you wanting to choose the most energy-efficient insulation for your new home? Is your current insulation no longer doing its job? When it comes to spray foam, proper installation is key. If you have any questions or would like a free estimate, call us at Great Canadian Insulation today!