Saving Big on Your Energy Bills!
People get the wrong understanding on how to save money on there energy bills.
Insulation is the best way to cut costs by 30% or more if done correctly.
There are so many different types of insulation these days that people have a had a hard time choosing the insulation that is necessary for there home. Properly insulating your home will cut your energy bills by at least 30%. In this article I will give try to give you my best advise and explain the differences of each.
First thing is builders always do the minimum requirements. Pink fibreglass in the walls, cellulose in the attic. Sounds just like your house does it not. Maybe you live in an really old house that does not have any insulation.
Insulation R-Values
Batt types
Pink Fibreglass has an R-value of 3.0-3.7 per sq/in easy to find
Mineral wool same as fibreglass 2.8-3.7 per sq/in
Cotton 3.0-3.7 per sq/in
Loose Fill
Fiberglass 3.0-3.7 per sq/in
Mineral fibre 2.8-3.7
Cellulose fibre 3.0-3.7
Board stock
Type 1 and 11 expanding polystyrene or EPS 3.6-4.4
type 111 and 1V extruded polystyrene or XPS 5
Rigid fibreglass 4.2-4.5
rigid mineral fibre 4.2-4.5
Polyisocyanurate 5.6-7.7
Spray applied
Wet spray cellulose 3.0-3.7
Polystyrene 3.6
Polyurethane 5.8-6.8
These figures are from Insulating your home guide from CMHC!
After understanding that these are the insulation in your walls it is easy to see that the best R-Value for your dollar comes from Polyurethane spray foam injection. It completely fills all cavities and creates an air barrier and vapour retarder. It also works to cut reduction of noise. Many recording studio’s are insulating there walls with polyurethane spray foam.
There are two different types that should be used for residential and commercial applications. You have slow rise and standard, both are different applications. If you already have your walls drywall or plastered with no insulation, you use the slow rise formula, if the walls are open then you would use the standard.
Insulating you home with spray polyurethane will a least double the R-Values of your home. It is easier to do this work with bare walls and a bare attic.
The cost of Tiger spray foam from Abba’s Service is more expensive but it will pay for itself in the long run. It lasts forever and it can not be removed easily.
Cellulose breaks down and shrinks over time as well as most insulation and is effected with air movement. If you make air movement between your walls disappear then that will save you big. This can not happen unless you use a water resistant fire retarder, vapour barrier type spray foam injection system.
You should have a qualified person installing it. and it will cost you double the amount.
The savings! Remember your home is now air tight, water proofed! You will never loose on you energy bills again. I think you will save about 50% on your energy bills if you insulate the hole house with polyurethane spray foam insulation and I will stand by that. You will see your money saved over the next 5 years and it will be at least the amount of what it cost you in the first place.
Example is 1000sq/ft of foam
1000 sq/ft of spray foam costs $3500 + GST
if it saves you $500 in energy savings every year for 5 years you saved $2500. This is just an example. It is probably more than that I am just talking about the winter. I think you got the picture Now!
Michael Keel from Abba’s Service thanks you for reading this article and would like to invite you to our blog at http://abbasservice.ca for more helpful tips! Click here!
December 14, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Thanks for the tips. I didn’t know you can save 30% on insulation. For utiltiy bills, I also like programmable thermostats. They can save me about 10%. I found this site http://www.needhelppayingbills.com which gave some ways and programs that help save on bills, including utility, but always looking for more advice, and will look into the cost of insulation. Thanks
December 23, 2008 at 4:16 pm
It is more like 50%!
January 9, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Thanks for this post, I’ll have to keep it bookmarked so I can link it when some loony throws up on my blog.
February 13, 2009 at 12:55 am
I hope my info helped you! there is always ways you can save money insulation temp control thermostats, water reducers and the best is scald guard for your shower. there is nothing worse then getting burnt. With money in the or in the shower. we are a contractor that can handle all your renovation needs. Renovations that will cost you now but save you in the long run. Is it time to call Abba’s Service your quality home renovation specialists! Windows, Siding, Basements, Bathrooms and a whole lot more at Abba’s Service.