Adding attic insulation Burlington is a smart way to make a building energy-efficient. Insulating an attic helps buildings remain warm in winter and cool in summer. This reduces heating and cooling bills. Insulating products come in multiple varieties. In fact, even old standbys have become more eco-friendly.
Heat transfer occurs by one of three methods. Conduction happens when heat moves between two objects in contact with one another. Convection occurs when heat moves through a liquid or a gas. Radiation involves sunlight and other electromagnetic waves that transfer heat to objects. Insulating an attic provides a barrier against all three processes, reducing the transfer of heat both in and out of a building.
The first step to choosing insulation is determining the right R-value. R-value measures how well a product resists the flow of heat. Cool-climate buildings might install a product with a higher R-value than a warm-climate building would. Many companies offer charts online showing the right R-value for different climates. R-38, however, is the standard value that most builders use.
Next, choose which type of product to install. Builders can choose between loose-fill and batt options. Batt is easy for a beginner or amateur to install. However, loose-fill is less expensive and, when installed correctly, gives more even coverage.
Third, choose the material. Generally, loose-fill and batt are made from either fiber or foam. New varieties of fiber and foam are making insulating more environmentally friendly than ever. Cellulose fiber, for instance, is eighty-five percent recycled newsprint and fifteen percent borate fire retardant. The borate has the added advantage of blocking pests and mold.
Another fiber available today is cotton. Most cotton fiber comes from recycled blue jeans, which are covered in borate, just like cellulose. Even traditional fiberglass has become more earth-friendly. Today's fiberglass carries up to forty percent recycled content. The batts can be chopped and blown into an attic or laid out in batts.
Foam products also come in multiple varieties. The most common types, polyicynene and polyurethane, are made from oil-derived chemicals. However, there are eco-friendly alternatives. Cementitious foam is made of magnesium oxide cement. The cement is then mixed with water, pumped full of air bubbles, and pumped into the attic.
Many companies have even retooled oil-based foam by adding agricultural products. Materials like soy, corn, and sugar cane can replace many oil-derived ingredients. Soy-based foam comes in tautly-formed boards. Other foams, however, are pumped into an attic.
Insulation comes in many varieties that are constantly evolving to be more environmentally friendly. Cutting costs and reducing fossil fuel dependence makes sense in today's world. That makes attic insulation Burlington a smart choice.
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