The Energy Saving Trust in the UK estimates that the average home can save several hundred pounds off its annual heating bills,

and prevent the emission of over two tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually, by installing insulation throughout. Insulation is the single biggest measure you can take to cut the amount of energy you use in the home. Plus this will also make the average home more comfortable by making it warmer in winter, and cooler in summer. It’s no wonder that hundreds of thousands of people a year in the UK are getting their homes insulated.

When thinking about insulating your home you are immediately faced with the choice of employing a professional contractor to do it, or attempting a bit of DIY. At first the DIY option can appear tempting. For example, some types of insulation, such as loft insulation, are not normally technically difficult to fit.

The materials are readily available in most DIY stores. Plus many people automatically think that DIY is going to be cheaper than employing a professional contractor, because with a contractor you are paying for their labour. However, in many cases they will be wrong because using a professional contractor is either cheaper or roughly the same cost as DIY. This is because installing insulation in the UK is now heavily subsidised by gas and electricity suppliers, in order that they can meet their carbon emission targets set by the government. These subsidies are funded by the power companies regardless of household income, and currently amount to between 50 and 70% of the cost of having the insulation installed. This usually means that using a contractor becomes price competitive, or in many cases even cheaper, than DIY.

Plus if you receive certain benefits from the government in the UK, you can get your insulation installed by a professional contractor completely free. This is because the government tops up the grants from the energy companies with its own subsidies to cover the entire cost of the work. As well as financial considerations, there are other reasons why employing a professional contractor can be attractive. Firstly, some types of insulation do require special technical expertise. For example, to install cavity wall insulation – filling the space between your outer walls with insulation material – requires special machinery, as well as training. You should always use a reputable contractor for this.

Although not technically difficult, installing loft insulation is often still a challenging DIY job. The working conditions in a loft are often cramped and unpleasant. Employing someone else to go up there is in many cases a much more attractive option! As well as the technical challenges, DIY can also have a number of safety issues. For example, the mineral wool that is commonly used to insulate lofts can be hazardous. It is extremely important to handle it with care, as it can severely irritate the throat and skin. You need to wear protective clothing, including face mask, safety goggles and gloves. You also need to make sure that you do not expose the living areas of the house to the material, either when you unpack it, or dispose of any waste material. If you use a reputable contractor, you can be sure that these issues will be taken care of, with much less hassle for you. You also know that the job will be done to a good standard, because of their training and experience. In fact, cavity wall insulation carried out by professionals in the UK comes with a 25 year guarantee if they are registered with the Cavity Wall Guarantee Agency, which most reputable firms are. Given all of these advantages, we recommend that most people use a professional contractor to get their home insulated. It’s generally competitive on cost or cheaper than DIY, safer, less hassle, and will be done to a high standard if you choose the right contractor. There are many reputable firms who can be accessed through the Internet They will offer you a free no-obligation survey, after which you get a quotation. They also give you access to the attractive grants and subsidies mentioned above. If you like what they tell you, then you can simply go ahead and get a date booked for the work, and look forward to a warmer home and lower heating bills. Author: Alex Perry Alex Perry is a founder of http://www.DownwithCO2.co.uk, which helps people cut their personal contribution to climate change through providing information and contacts Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Perry Georgia on my mind. to all the readers i’ve disappointed, i offer condolences on my blogging infrequency. however written words, as flowery as they may be, make little difference without action to support them. thus … Read more… Wigs, senility, and bedbugs where the hell have i been for the last 2 weeks? mainly skipping class, sleeping in, and preparing for the biggest event to hit umass since, oh, a month ago. on friday night my school held its annual … Read more… I knew i had a blue peter badge for a reason! well i’ve progressed from sticky back plastic and toilet roll tubes to bigger and better things! yesterday charlie and i were doing some more to the patch of wall that was previously hidden. Commercial/industrial for rent – $1975. (florida) 1 units. 1650.00 sq. ft., beautiful new office/warehouse condo 1650 sq ft upstairs loft roll up garage door side door dowstairs.

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Few people are aware that there are even different ways to insulate their home, let alone the fact that there are some glaring differences among the different methods. 

Which is better suited for your particular situation? Rolled insulation, or batting as it is sometimes referred, seems like a better option to some people and it’s the often the most recognizable option to most home owners. It seems like the neatest, cleanest and easiest to install option, but it has its advantages and disadvantages just like the blown in insulation that a contractor would come and install in your house with machines. The Advantages of Rolled Insulation Convenience It’s true that you can quickly and easily procure rolls of insulation at your local home improvement center and begin performing the work on your own – the same day if you so choose.

Self Satisfaction For many home owners, there are few things that are as satisfying and rewarding as setting out a plan for a home improvement project, getting all of the necessary supplies and completing the project on their own, with no outside help what so ever.

The Advantages of Blown In Insulation Performance Despite the fact that rolled insulation is specifically manufactured to fit right in between standard sized studs or joists – it simply can’t match the "fill" of professionally installed blown in insulation. Blown in insulation provides optimal performance because it fits securely into every nook and cranny, it will fill every crack and crevice and surround every piece of conduit and every obstacle, providing a much more effective barrier than rolled insulation. Speed of Installation A team of qualified professionals will come out to your home with all of the necessary equipment to properly take care of, in a matter of a few hours, what it could very well have taken you a few days to do with rolled insulation. In addition to the speed, they’ll be able to get into areas with blown in insulation that you would have never dreamed of getting into with your rolls of insulation. Price Considering the cost of the materials, the higher level of protection from the elements that blown in insulation has over rolled insulation, and the amount of time and work that you won’t have to invest, it could be very well worth a little bit higher of an initial investment to have the blown in insulation installed by professionals. You may come to find that the money you are saving on your energy bills will help pay for that extra cost in no time.

If your home was built prior to 1970, chances are you may have no insulation at all in your walls and you probably have insufficient amounts of insulation in your attic and your crawl space. The insulation in your attic or crawl space may be deteriorating or water damaged and simply may be incapable of providing the protection that your home needs from the elements.

Depending upon your location or situation, rolled insulation may very well be more than enough to suit your particular needs, but in areas with rough, harsh climate changes you may need to have blown in insulation installed for your home to be as efficient on energy as possible. Having the right type and quantity of insulation in your home makes sense; it will make your home more comfortable and save you money. Each different type of insulation has advantages and disadvantages, so if you aren’t too sure about what your home may need to be properly insulated then consult a qualified professional with an insulation blowing machines to help you make the right decision so you can begin to get the most out of both your cooling and heating systems. Author: Amy Nutt When looking for information on air duct cleaning equipment and insulation blowing machines, consider Heat Seal Equipment. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt Does the insulation on old SER cables ever fail? – DIY Chatroom … Of all the energy-saving, utility bill-cutting approaches that are employed in the modern home, insulation is the best publicized. .. Does Your Floor Plan Call for Home Insulation? | Best House Floor … Improving your house plan’s energy efficiency with home insulation. If your house floor plan calls for reducing your energy bill. Response to government home insulation plans Responding to the announcement by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on home insulation, council leaders called for energy suppliers to pay a 500 million annual charge. Scoop Business Schools, Roads and Home Insulation Head Stimulus NZ Schools, Roads and Home Insulation Head Stimulus Package. By Pattrick Smellie. Feb. 11 – The NZ Government s $500 million fiscal stimulus will start to kick in immediately.

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Insulation Removal – Why Remove and Replace Old Insulation?

With the costs of heating & cooling these days why would you want insulation removed from your home?

  There are 3 reasons for insulation removal and replacement including the its ability to make you and your family sick.

By Matthew Grady With the costs associated with heating oil these days it might come as a surprise that anyone would want insulation REMOVED from his/her home. In fact, there are 3 excellent, but rarely considered, reasons for insulation removal and replacement. 1. Over-Insulation Having too much insulation in an attic is sometimes worse than not having enough. Adding heavy layers of insulation in an attic can drastically restrict the airflow and ventilation of your home.

This can result in moisture issues on the top floor of your house and, in severe cases, even lead to mold problems. Left unchecked, either or both of these can cause health problems for your family especially if a family member suffers from allergies. 2. Damaged/Contaminated Insulation Critters that find their way in your attic, a leaky roof and other dangers can severely damage and even contaminate your insulation. An attic full of squirrel/bat droppings and urine-soaked insulation are yet other potential causes of serious health hazards for you and your family.

In fact, the Owens Corning blog reports, "…when the water [or other liquid] evaporates, deposits of foreign materials that remain may decrease the R-value, and may also give mold and or mildew nourishment and a place to propagate. This growth, and/or odor (Yuck!), may then also be transferred to other building materials." In addition, insulation that has been torn to shreds by animals over the years loses its functionality. Since tattered insulation cannot retain heat properly, it is unable to provide the benefits it once did and requires replacement. 3. Upgrade Your Insulation The insulation of today is far superior to the insulation that was sold 15 to 20 years ago. New materials with improved thermal properties are now available to homeowners. In many cases you will realize a dramatic reduction in heating costs simply from upgrading the type of insulation in your attic. This especially holds true for older homes. Insulation Removal Process Removing old insulation from an attic can be a time-consuming and challenging project. If there are animal droppings mixed with the insulation you can expose yourself to several different diseases by disturbing the insulation and then inhaling the particles that become airborne. Proper safety equipment is a must for anyone working with old, contaminated insulation. Dragging dirty insulation from your attic through the living space of your home is NOT a safe method of insulation removal.

Using this method will result in a house full of airborne fiberglass particles and all the other contaminants that were in your attic. There are now professional companies that specialize in removing insulation in a safe and effective manner. Conclusion Do-it-yourselfers can save money by installing new insulation themselves after they’ve hired pros to safely remove the old insulation (so as not to contaminate themselves and the entire house). Once the insulation removal and replacement processes are complete, you can look forward to lower heating/cooling costs, greater air quality, reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (thanks to the use of less energy) and more. The immediate benefits for your family and the long-term benefits for our environment make insulation removal and replacement a smart move for everybody. Matthew Grady is a licensed general contractor & owner of Bat Guys Wildlife Service. Bat Guys is fully licensed to perform insulation removal services and also rid your home of mice, bats, raccoons & more. For more about insulation removal Knowing What Insulation to Put Where in Your Home But I can let go . to focus on more practical issues, such as sorting out what types of insulation work best in the different parts of your house. Soy Based Foam Insulation: What It Is, and Why You Should Use It … Soy based insulation is just as good at insulating your home as traditional insulation. With soy based insulation you don t have to worry about sacrificing quality. What s in Your Attic? Learn How to Save Energy and Money If you re still wondering why your house is so cold this winter, it may be a good idea to see what kind of insulation you have in your attic. You Will Save Energy with Insulation : Planet Green So, bottom line is insulation:. Will reduce your carbon footprint, save you money on your energy bill and reduce your reliance on fossil fuels.

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