Great Green Idea: Green Furnishing: Increase Insulation- Save Money

Increase Insulation- Save Money

It can't be stressed enough how important good insulation is to home economy. Replacing old insulation can save you as much as 30% (or more) on your heating bill, with similar dramatic cuts to the cost of cooling in the warmer months. (As an added plus-it muffles noise! Never hear your neighbors arguing again.) You will noticeably feel much warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer with good, quality insulation.

But you should insulate more than just the obvious places. For example, insulating your water heater can save a significant amount of energy, since heat can be lost externally through the metal tank. This principle also holds for your water pipes; insulating them saves energy. Sealant products for your windows will also keep out the cold air while still letting in the sunlight. You should also make sure your attic is insulated-hot air rises, and so the best place to trap it is at the very top.

But there is a dilemma when preparing for a home insulation project: what kind of insulation should you choose? The least expensive insulation offered on the market is fiberglass insulation. Usually pink but sometimes yellow, it resembles cotton candy and is a highly hazardous material to handle. Fiberglass is far and away the most widely and frequently-used insulation material. But it poses serious health risks. It is made from very tiny, very thin slivers of fiberglass, and like all sharp pieces of glass it can cut you. Breathing it through your nose and mouth even in extremely small amounts can cause internal soft tissue damage, and touching it barehanded injures any skin that comes in contact with it. There is even some evidence to link fiberglass inhalation with cancer, although this is disputed.

There are a number of different choices for home insulation materials if you decide not to use fiberglass. These may not be as cheap, but it will keep you warmer, lower your expenses for temperature control, and prevent damage to your body. The three most environmentally-friendly materials are cotton, wool, and vermiculite. Cotton insulation is usually composed mostly of recycled denim. Wool is a richer, thicker, and more expensive option, but achieves perhaps the best energy-saving results. Vermiculite is a mineral that can be collected from nature, not a chemical substance manufactured with synthetic substances. As vermiculite becomes warmer, it expands and provides more effective insulation. Since all of these materials are 100% natural and safe, they pose almost no risk of environmental harm at all.

There are several other options as far as insulating materials, such as spray polyurethane or polyicynene. These are fast, easy to install, and safe, but they are manufactured using petrochemicals which are harmful to the soil, air, and water.

Insulation's energy-saving effectiveness is indisputable, and if your house is drafty, you'll feel the difference right away. Even if you choose to insulate with more expensive materials, they will quickly pay for themselves. Consider investing in a natural way to save both energy and money.