Cutting down on the amount of energy you use is not only good for the environment, it’s good for your wallet as well. Given that around 56% of the energy used in homes in the USA is used for cooling and heating, according to the Department of Energy, being sure the energy stays in the house and not outside is one of the surest ways to cut down on energy costs.
Given that around 40% of a home’s energy loss is caused by poor air filtration, it is safe to assume that fixing said air filtration issues would be an all too easy way to make your energy bill smaller. Indeed, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program it is estimated that monthly energy bills could be cut by up to 20% with the addition of insulation and by properly sealing air leaks that allow for both cool and heat to escape.
When it comes to insulation needs to help with this, one of the more popular ways to provide it is with spray foam insulation, as it both stops air flow, stops energy from escaping, and blocks heat flow, keeping your home from becoming too warm in the summer.
There are two main types of spray foam insulation to choose from, however, open cell spray foam, and closed cell spray foam.
Closed cell spray foam is more common, because people seek out the density that they provide, and the fact that this not only provides insulation, but also can also provide strength to the walls and surfaces to which it is applied, given that they resemble solids when they are fully formed. Given this, however, more of this spray foam is needed, making it a more expensive option to go with.
Open cell spray foam, on the other hand, is lightweight and pliable, expanding only once it has put into place via a spray foam insulation machine. Due to this, it is very useful in insulation of hard to reach spots. The cells in open cell spray foam are considered to be “broken;” that is, the cells of it are not completely closed, and the empty space inside of them fill with air once exposed to it. This is what makes it so it does not expand until it has been applied. Due to this, it is a much more affordable option when compared to a closed cell spray foam.
Ultimately, the type of spray insulation you use depends on what your specific needs are. But no matter which way you decide to go, in the long run, you’ll be saving energy, and saving money.
