Archive for June, 2009

Principal Wall Insulation Progressions

 

Foam insulation is made up of a polymer (such as polyurethane or modified urethane) and a highly reactive foaming agent. The two components are kept separate until they reach the nozzle of the spraying machine when they quickly react creating a substance that can expand up to 100 times its original size.

The foam is sprayed either directly onto the surface or through holes (in the case of retro-fitting) and expands to fill even the smallest nooks and crannies making an air-tight seal and thus eliminating the escape of air, energy, and money.

installing insulation

There are two types of spray foam insulators: open-cell (isocyanurate) and closed-cell (polyurethane). Open-cell types allow for the infiltration of vapor, while the closed-cell provides superior insulation and serves as a vapor barrier.

Each type has its advantages in different situations. Review the following advantages and disadvantages to see if this material is right for you.

Advantages of spray insulators:
They have higher R-values per inch than traditional batted fiberglass. R-value is the measurement of thermal resistance used in the construction industry today. The higher the number a material is, the more effectively it insulates.
It blocks air flow by making a tight seal around wires, electrical boxes, and in all tight spaces.
It can serve as a vapor barrier when a closed-cell variety is used.
It acts as a sound dampener as well.
It can be used to retrofit a home for thermal efficiency.
When retrofitting, it is the cleanest (no dust) and most effective option.
It can actually improve the structural stability of the building.
It can be used in places where traditional materials cannot such as between rafters and joints.
When the house expands and contracts the material does the same, always providing that air-tight seal.
It can be applied in small quantities.
It does not shrink, loose shape, or biodegrade.
Some kinds are fireproof.

Disadvantages of Spray Foam Insulators:
Installation is difficult and requires special equipment. A small area may be attempted by a novice, but most jobs ought to be handled by a certified installer. They have the experience and the ability to the wall cavity without too much over-spray.
Because a professional installer is needed, this material can be expensive. The installed cost generally ranges from $1.25 to $2.25 per square foot, depending on wall thickness and type of foam. This cost is typically higher than the price of traditional materials.
When burned, they release toxic fumes
Some use HCFCs, which are believed to deplete the ozone layer.
It is made from fossil fuels.
It contains hazardous chemicals which can become a danger to humans and the environment during transportation and installation.
Installation can be dangerous and visual blindness can occur without the proper eye protection.
In some cases it may be difficult to retrofit a home with because of the chemicals used.

Now it is becoming increasingly popular to insulate your home with spray foam insulation. However installing this type of insulation is not that easy, and should be left to professionals.

Author: Andrew Stratton

Spray foam insulation is a safe alternative to other insulation materials. To safely install this energy-efficient, noise-reducing, and versatile material in your home, get a spray foam insulation kit at http://foaminsulationspray.wordpress.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

Topic 7 – Is The Best Insulation Really Knauf? |

If your house is lined up in the same queue along with buildings which were constructed after 1930s with cavities in the outside walls, it is a suitable receipt of cavity wall insulat…   Read more…

Assessing Which Walls Should Be Insulation Walls |

Insulation Grants – Way to Avert fef The Sting of Rising Energy Bills.   Read more…

Key Benefits on Wall Cavity Insulation |

Excess froth is scraped off the sides to form a uniform wall cavity. It makes it easy to completely fill wall cavities with insulation and to also perform air sealing. It is appli…   Read more…

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If you are considering insulating the walls of your old house there are several things to consider before you get started on this home improvement project: how your house was constructed, the type of blown-in insulation, if you are up to the challenge of doing it yourself or will you need to hire someone to do it, and the possible negative aesthetic impact. This energy conservation method can easily save you hundreds of dollars every year on your heating and cooling bills, but it’s a bit more involved than adding a layer of "pink" in your attic.

rockwall insulation

First you must examine how your house was built. If you have solid masonry walls of brick, stone and/or claty masonry units you really should not add any insulation. The second red flag to look for is if your house has "knob and tube wiring." If so, it must be removed and replaced since covering this type of wiring with blown-in insulation is a fire hazard. If your house was built in or before the 1950’s it may be "balloon framed" instead of "platform framed" which means that the cavity between the wall studs will extend from the top of the foundation wall all the way up to the roof rafters. These cavities are obviously interrupted by doors and windows, but they are not interrupted by floor framing as is the case with "platform framing." The implication here is that with balloon framing fewer holes will need to be drilled into your walls.

The three most common types of blown-in insulation are: cellulose, fiberglass and foam. Each type has its positives and its negatives. Cellulose insulation is basically recycled ground up newsprint that has been mixed with chemicals that deters mold, fire and vermin. This is typically going to be your least expensive option and is a little better than fiberglass at preventing water damage in your walls. One drawback of cellulose insulation is that it will not fully fill the inside of the wall cavities as it will not expand like foam into cracks and around obstacles in the wall. Furthermore, it can settle a little over time leaving small gaps of no insulation at the tops of your walls. This however can take many years to happen and is most often insignificant. Fiberglass is one of the most familiar types of insulation. This solution will usually be a little more expensive than cellulose and its insulating capabilities are slightly less effective. It is less likely to settle than cellulose, but only contains about half of the recycled content. Foam insulation is by far the most effective energy conservation improvement for your walls. Foam will completely fill the entire wall cavity and any minor cracks and openings, this creates an effective air barrier that will seal any source for air leakage. The basic insulating properties of foam are about 33% better than cellulose and 60% better than loose fill fiberglass. However, overall foam performs even better because of its air barrier qualities. The only drawback to foam is cost, only you can decide if the added savings will be worth the added cost.

The blown-in insulation of choice for the do-it-yourselfer is cellulose. The materials and equipment for installing cellulose insulation can be found at most large home improvement stores, but you should have some general knowledge of wood framing and other home improvement skills. If you do decide to take on this challenge make sure to plan carefully and take all safety precautions including using dust masks. You could blow fiberglass into your attic yourself fairly easily, but leave it to the professionals to blow it or foam into your walls. The materials and equipment for installing foam insulation are not typically available to the general public.

Finally, the last consideration is how this project may impact the looks of your house. Many blown-in insulation contactors will prefer to drill holes directly through your siding or stucco into the wall cavity and repair them at the end of the job by placing a painted plastic plug into the hole, this will be your least expensive option, but it will have a negative impact on the look of your house. A second option is to carefully remove the siding in the required locations, drill holes through only the sheathing, install the insulation, plug the holes and then replace the siding. This solution will be more expensive and may require you to repaint your entire house, but it will leave your house looking just as before. One complication is that some sidings are very difficult if not impossible to remove without damaging them. Homeowners with brick or stone veneer do not have the option of insulating from the exterior and must do it from the inside. This solution, available to everyone, creates a bit of a mess in your house, but drywall and plaster is much easier to patch and repair without leaving a trace.

spray foam

Regardless of which options you choose, adding insulation to your home is one of the most cost effective energy conservation strategies that you can use to reduce your heating and cooling bills. Depending on the efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment and the cost of energy in your area insulating the walls in your older home could pay for itself in as few as two years or as many as ten. However, if viewed as an investment, insulating your older home is one of the best and safest that you could make, returning you a 10% to 50% return on your investment, and that is with today’s energy costs.

Author: Dan Bossenbroek

Dan Bossenbroek is an Architect who has promoted energy efficient solutions in his projects for over 17 years. For energy conservation strategies and home improvement advice, I recommend http://www.justgreenhomes.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Bossenbroek

The TaxPayers’ Alliance – Media Coverage: Building Trades Training

The loans would be offered by the Government to fund environmentally friendly schemes such as double glazing, loft and cavity wall insulation, solar panels and wind turbines. Mr Adams sa…   Read more…

~ Rok Repairing Britain

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Heat energy is money

Heat lost is money lost. Neglect your home insulation and you will simply throw away your hard earned cash. Do you realize this money could have been put to better use either for your self or your beloved family members?

reflective insulation

Heat Loss

There are 6 major locations where your home heat is lost from;

Attic and Roof

Walls

Windows and doors

Hot water storage tanks and Plumbing

Hot air distribution ducting

Chimney vents

How it is lost

In all cases improving building insulation (either by replacing in full, increasing the thickness of the existing, changing the type of material, adding vapor barriers etc.).Simply adding some insulation blindly to the existing (or none existing, as the case may be!) is not going to solve your problem.

  • Heat flows from a higher level to the lower level
  • The "R" factor is the resistance offered by a material to heat flow
  • The higher the "R" value the lesser the heat energy lost across that material
  • The reciprocal value (i.e. 1 / "R" ) is called the "U" value which is the heat value transmitted across a unit area of that material.
  • In reality "U" value is a composite figure which includes all material integral to the insulation and also the heat resistance of the air film adjacent it.
  • When it is "U" factor the lesser the value the better the insulation property.
  • In insulation the type of material (chemical and physical composition, weight [density= kg/m 2 ] and the thickness of it, the presence of a vapor barrier etc.) also have a big say in the heat lost.

How do you check the Insulation Quality?

  • Today the easiest way to locate areas of heat loss is the Heat Imaging or Infra Red Thermal Imaging. The imaging instantaneously tells you where the weak spots in insulation are.
  • This method does not tell you how much the building insulation thickness is, the type of material, the quality of insulation etc. These of course have to be determined by physical examination.
  • The highest portion of Energy loss to out side of your home is attributed to external walls (shell).The walls of your pre new millennium home may be with un-insulated cavity between the two walls. Drilling at pre determined spots are necessary to determine the settling of insulation fibres, the type and thickness, availability of moisture barrier etc. will reveal the extent of retrofit required.

A retrofit is your answer to this situation. After all why back pedal when SEI (if you are in Ireland) and other similar organizations all over the world are very keen to help you, even to the extent of reimbursing your investment.

Author: J Mahoney

John Mahoney is a freelance author who writes about various technology realated subjects. For more information about John visit his website http://www.techstore.ie.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Mahoney

Fibreglass insulation | Insulation Grants

In a bid to reduce overall emissions by 80% by 2050, the government has announced plans to reduce the footprint of homes by retrofitting existing homes with energy efficiency measures, such as loft an…   Read more…

the Carbon Challenge: The launch of the Great British Refurb Campaign

Just to give some perspective on why this campaign is so important – nearly a quarter of all UK homes (an estimated 6.3 million homes) still need cavity wall insulation and nearly half o…   Read more…

Carl Sargeant: Good Advice

Resident’s who sign up for loft and cavity wall insulation could be saving over £265 a year in reduced energy bills. Residents who attend the energy advice surgeries will also recei…   Read more…

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In house construction there are only two design styles available, the Traditional Solid wall and the more modern Cavity wall construction.

The traditional solid wall was popular up until the 1920’s where it was superseded by the cavity wall. The cavity wall was in it’s turn used in unchanged form until the 1970’s when it underwent a significant design change when insulation was added to the construction.

rockwool cubes

In the older traditional method the walls would be constructed in one single solid wall usually 500mm in thickness. This single wall would perform all the necessary duties of supporting the roof and upper floors, preventing water ingress into the living areas and keeping the inside of the property warm.

All too often while the traditional method had no difficulty in performing the first of these three tasks, the job of keeping moisture out and heat in was outside of the solid wall design parameter especially in the cheaper, smaller properties, where the workmanship was and remains very shoddy.

Older properties (with the exception of the larger more expensive properties that were normally very well constructed) often suffer from ground water penetration problems that result in damp walls or rotted timbers in floors or roof spaces and while in the summer the thick walls offered a cool and inviting interior, in the winter months the lack of insulation in the exterior walls resulted in a drafty and very cold living space, which was costly to keep heated.

As a direct result of these problems the cavity wall was born. The advantages of using cavity wall construction are many. Firstly the cavity prevents water from passing across into the interior of the property, which immediately solves the problem of damp walls. Secondly the addition of damp proofing methods ensures that there are no more issues with water ingress from the ground or roof.

The cavity design also offered another benefit in that insulation could be added to the cavity, (although this did not come into effect until the 1970′2) helping to retain the heat in the interior living spaces. In today’s energy conscious society there is now and even greater requirement to super insulate our homes.

One point to note is that while cavity construction has secured a lasting place in our home construction there is not and never has been any legislation that enforces this common design.

The use of solid walls has a few benefits that should not be ignored. The first of these is mass. The greater depth of wall offers its own natural insulation and has the natural property of keeping the property cool in warm weather. The wider spread of the wall loading also makes the property stronger and it less likely that the foundations will fail.

The higher cost of construction and the additional design considerations of Foundations, Dpc and other waterproofing elements are the main reason that this form of construction is no longer used in everyday house construction.

The solid wall construction can also be combined with timber frame construction or as in the case of straw bale building be built completely in straw. The options are endless.

Author: Ed Gordon

Ed Gordon is a Self Build specialist with a keen interest in Energy Efficiency and reducing the construction Carbon Footprint and the overall cost of construction. For more information go to http://www.gts-timber-frame.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ed_Gordon

Wall ties in a 200mm Cavity

Even if you fill the cavity with insulation you are still going to get thermal bridging which will cause interstitial condensation to form somewhere between the outside wall and within …   Read more…

IRL-Dublin: construction work – dgMarket – Tenders and consulting

and Cavity Wall Insulation Service. II.1.2) Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Services. Service category: No 1. Main place of performance: Irel…   Read more…

Can solid wall insulation be sexy? « gbrefurb campaign

To significantly improve the energy efficiency of the vast majority of our existing homes, that’s to say, to go beyond the low hanging fruit of loft and cavity wall insulation, is fr…   Read more…

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If your home isn`t properly insulated you could be losing a lot of heat through the loft and the walls.

Here we will consider just three main areas where insulation can be cost effective, which means you will save energy (good for the environment), stay warmer, and save money.

The figures here relate to the current situation in the United Kingdom, but the general principles will apply everywhere, especially in colder climates.

loft insulation grant

Cavity wall insulation

Non-insulated homes lose around a third of their heat through the walls. Cavity wall insulation will significantly reduce the amount of energy you need to heat your home and savings of around 200 could be made on fuel bills. The higher the prices of fuel goes, the greater the savings.

Cavity wall insulation isn`t complicated, all that happens is the gap between the two walls of a house are filled with an insulating material, forced through from the outside.

It is estimated that savings of 15 percent can be made by having proper cavity wall insulation.

If you have cavity walls, even if you had to pay the full cost of insulating them, you should recover your costs in savings on heating in around three to four years. If the insulation is subsidised, of course, it will take much less time to make savings.

Right now, though, Loft Insulation & Cavity Wall Insulation Grants are available to all UK Homeowners and Private Tenants.

These grants available are part of the UK Government’s new Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT).

Even if you are not entitled to a full grant you can still receive a partial grant. In fact people on qualifying benefits can even get the insulation work done absolutely free.

Contact your gas or electricity supplier direct and ask them about what they can offer. They should arrange for a surveyor to visit you, and depending on the results of the survey, arrangements are then made for an insulation company to call and do the required work.

If you rent a property privately you will probably be required to get written confirmation from your landlord that he/she agrees to you getting the work done, even if it won`t cost them anything.

Insulating your loft could save you around 225 per year on your energy bills if there is no insulation there at the moment. In an uninsulated home a quarter of your heat can be lost through the roof. Insulating your loft is a simple and effective way to reduce your heating bills.

If you want to do it yourself, be careful to use protective clothing, gloves and masks. Usually, though, loft insulation is best left to the experts.

Finally, double glazing, (or in some countries even triple glazing) can cut your heat lost through the windows by over half.

Single glazing is now considered outdated, and many attractive styles of double glazing units are on the market.

Fitting recommended double glazing can save around 150 a year on your heating bills. The air trapped between two panes of glass creates an insulating barrier which reduces heat loss, noise and condensation.

Author: Geoff Cummings

Geoff Cummings runs a DIY tools site and is also involved with other sites. For a full range of tools for around the home, visit http://www.ourhometools.com and you will find products designed with you, the user, in mind, at discount prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Geoff_Cummings

Insulation grants in Scotland | Insulation Grants

This applies to loft insulation and cavity wall insulation install fef ed in most properties throughout Scotland. Cavity wall insulation and loft insulation i…   Read more…

How Much Insulation is Needed? | GreenBuildingAdvisor.com

If the roof is being insulated (above a cathedral ceiling), getting to R-60 will typically require a combination of cavity-fill insulation in the rafters or trusses and rigid i…   Read more…

House 2.0: On Cavity Wall Insulation

It has cavity walls — that’s easy to tell because all the bricks are stretchers — but whether the cavity itself has insulation in it I have no idea. So, when researching a…   Read more…

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If you are planning to move to a new location or a new house – do not. Instead change the way the walls of your house effect in movement of heat. Cavity wall insulation is the name of the process that is espoused to fill in insulation materials between brick walls making walls capable to hinder heat transfer. If your house is constructed after 1930 then the building was constructed with two brick layers with cavities in between for allowing air transfer. However, such building designs have turned out to catalyst to substantial heat loss. Potential heat loss appears severely hazardous for your home environment as well as global environment. Because indoor comfort gets jeopardized due to imbalance in heat, you resort to use climate conditioning equipment that absorbs high degree of energy, emits carbon dioxide and heighten energy bills.

 

cavity insulation

Gamut of benefits is receivable by installing cavity wall insulation and following are the most significant reasons why this insulation has to be installed -

Energy Savings – Fitting cavity wall insulation to the older homes without insulation or newer homes with inadequate insulation alleviates energy bills of up to 200 pounds in a year (around 30%). The amount of energy can be saved by any household vary according to shape, construction and size of the house. Moreover, heating and cooling appliances are expensive and requires costly maintenance apart from the fact they absorb fuel energy. Thus, such cavity insulation helps you saving money by minimizing use of heating and cooling system.

Restores comfort – If you think of consistency in comfort in your home, think of cavity wall insulation to prevent cavity walls squeezing out heat produced in the house. Uninsulated houses become cold and have zero resistance to harsh winter season. Moreover, insulation acts as a noise barrier obstructing unwanted noise and high decibel sound creating peaceful, sound proof environment.

cavity insulation

Increased Home Value – The energy mortgage escalates people’s home purchase power by making mortgage lenders take estimation of savings on monthly energy bill. Greater the house enables savings on monthly energy bills, greater energy efficiency the house shows off and also greater savings on monthly bill proves greater additional income.

Cavity wall insulation also helps in various other ways that ensures overall hygienic indoor climate including vapour retarding, improved ventilation, air infiltration, recessed lighting etc.

Author: William Peter

William Peter is an article author, who brings the information about cavity wall insulation and cavity wall insulation grants through article, news press release and blog. For more details visit our home insulation grants website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Peter

cavity wall insulation – Snagging.org Forum

Hi can any one tell me if there is a NHBC requirment to install cavity wall insulation, We are currently buying a new build property that is just up.   Read more…

Reduce your Co2 emissions and save cash into the bargain

As long as your house can be insulated, anyone can claim a grant to help pay the cost of both loft and cavity wall insulation. Depending on the size of your house, the cost to you…   Read more…

Insulation grants in Wales | Insulation Grants

This applies to loft insulation and cavity wall insulation installed in most properties throughout Wales. Cavity wall insulation and loft insulation is design…   Read more…

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Why Decide on Cavity Insulation?

Types Of Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam can be used as insulating .For residential walls and ceiling cavities it can be used as arising walls. They are also used for making a room sound proof. The insulation is sprayed through special equipment through wall cavities and expands to fill all crannies and nooks in a wall cavity. Open cell and closed cell are two types of different foams available. Sprayed foam is used as a liquid which contains a polymer and a foaming agent. By acting as a wind and air barrier, it often eliminates the need for separate air tightness. Spray foam insulation does not degrade or shrink. Insulation of spray foam insulation requires a skill trainer although most of the products are ready made available.

domestic soundproofing

The cost of spray foam at the time of installation depends on the thickness of the wall and the type of foam and it does not include any kind of operational cost. The warranty period of this spray foam insulation depends on the manufacturer and It may be either limited or lifetime warranty. Various benefits of spray foam insulation are: although it costs than traditional Bat insulation but acts as an air barrier and Bat insulation eliminates the steps of air tightness dealing. Since most of the products are ready made available so less number of specialized contractors are required and it also reduces the construction time period.

The basic difference between the two types of spray foam insulation is: the first and the foremost reason is the nature of the foam. In case of open cell, the tiny cells of the foam are not completely closed and they are broken and air fills all of the open space inside the material and because of this the foam gets weaker or softer. There are many advantages of closed cell foam over open cell foam. The disadvantage of the closed cell foam is that it is denser and it requires more material and thus more expensive.

One should always contact the supplier for performance and application data on their specific material. Open cell SPF has an R-value around 3.5 per inch and typically uses water as the blowing agent and closed cell SPF has an R-value around 6.0 and it uses R-value products. Spray foam insulation is a superb product and there are insulation materials available for metal buildings as well and it is progressing day by day.

By: Franchis

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Spray Foam Insulation is without a doubt the single largest advancement in ‘Green’, ‘Super Energy Efficient’ insulation technology available today. Spray foam energy solutions from california’s premier spray foam insulation contractor for instation in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Is cavity wall insulation right for me? | Greenme: Sustainable

Guide to Wall Insulation Up to half of the heat loss from a house occurs through the walls. This can be reduced by two-thirds by insulating the.   Read more…

Being Environmentally Friendly | Mindzle – Living Green Smart

Cavity wall insulation is normally the most common type of insulation. In the case of most homes insulation can easily be injected into the cavity between the two ou…   Read more…

Home Security » Blog Archive » How Cavity Wall Insulation Works

But, these cavity walls currently pose a threat to existence to our blue planet causing massive greenhouse effects and shortening energy resources of the nation. That’s why, cavity w…   Read more…

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Why Installing Cavity Wall Insulation?

soundproofing floors

Figures show that up to half of your heat is lost through un-insulated walls. It is possible to prevent around 70% of this from being lost by installing cavity wall insulation. Typically this would result in a heating bill saving of around 25%.

Cavity insulation can be applied to most houses with cavity walls and generally involves drilling a series of holes in the outer leaf of the outside wall and blowing the insulation into the cavity. The holes can be sealed again leaving little or no tra

By: Qonline

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

thinkinsulation UK – is a source of clear and practical advice on energy efficiency. Here you’ll find useful information and tips on how you can improve your home’s energy efficiency, help reduce emissions of harmful greenhouse gases and save money into the bargain. – Managed by Q-online

theukagency.com»Blog Archive » Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation

Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation. Agentbooth @ 3:42 pm. We now have both – yippee! Here’s to lower gas bills, hopefully! Weekend went to a friend’s 40th birthday party – didn’…   Read more…

Can solid wall insulation be sexy? « gbrefurb campaign

To significantly improve the energy efficiency of the vast majority of our existing homes, that’s to say, to go beyond the low hanging fruit of loft and cavity wall insulation, is fr…   Read more…

Insulation Grants – Way To Avert Sting Of Rising Energy Bills

Home insulation grants are proven extremely cost effective allowing people to save about 270 pounds on yearly energy bills and CO2 emission by 1 tonnes after installing loft insulation a…   Read more…

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The Best Method For Acoustic Walls

A Brief History Of Insulation – Look How Far We’ve Come

The Ancient Egyptians used it. So did the Ancient Romans. In the 1800’s, a guy wrote about it, sort of. By the Great Depression, there was a growing demand for it. In the mid 1970’s, medical science told us we were doing it wrong. Now, 21st century builders have to "go green" to earn green. And the future seems brighter (and more energy efficient than ever.) We’ve used cork, asbestos, glass, plastic, foam and even mud to do it. Yes, when you look at the history of insulation, in all its myriad forms, we can see just how far we’ve come.

green insulation

The Ancient Egyptians used insulation to keep their desert homes and buildings cool, and their linen clothing warmer in the cooler winter months. They added papyrus linings to their loincloths and skirts to keep warm in winter. They built their homes of thick brick, designed to help keep out the sun’s scorching heat in summer.

The Ancient Greeks knew about asbestos, in fact they named it. They used it to dress their imported slaves, as well as for the wicks of their eternal temple flames, napkins and the funeral dress of kings. The material’s flame-resistant properties gave it a bit of a mystical appeal to the Greeks. They had a common name for it, too – crysotile – which means "gold cloth." The Greeks were the first to go on record as noting that asbestos caused a "lung sickness" in the slaves who worked with it and wore it. The Greeks also knew how to insulae their homes, using cavity walls. The air trapped in between the inner and outer walls would act to help keep out the colder or hotter air, depending on the season.

Always on the look-out for the next best thing, the Ancient Romans also dressed their slaves in asbestos cloth. They made tablecloths and napkins for restaurants and banquets out of asbestos cloth, throwing it into the fire between diners or courses to clean it of crumbs. The Romans were perhaps the ancient world’s most noted engineers, and they knew enough to build cavity walled structures, too. They learned to insulate their heated water pipes with cork from Spain and Portugal so that they could be placed under floors without fear of overheating the flooring.

The Vikings and other northern Europeans learned to insulate their homes with mud chinking, plastering it in the cracks between the logs or hewn boards of the buildings walls.. When mixed with horse or cattle dung and straw, the mud was known as daub, and was considered a stronger, better building material over plain old mud. They created clothing out of thick sheep’s wool, and may have even used cloth to line the interior walls of their homes.

Cloth came to be widely used in the Middle Ages among the wealthy as stone once again came into fashion for home building. These imposing stone structures tended to be drafty, damp and cold. Large ornately embroidered or woven tapestries would be hung on interior walls, partly to block out the drafts and partly to soak up the dampness. Rushes on the floors also helped to keep things a bit warmer underfoot.

During the Industrial Revolution, manufacturers turned once again to asbestos for their insulation needs. Steam-powered technology meant lots of hot pipes to carry the steam to where it was needed. These hot steam supply pipes could be made safer for workers by wrapping them in asbestos. With the invention of the steam locomotive, the demand for asbestos exploded. Suddenly, fireboxes, boilers, pipes and even boxcars and breaks were lined or wrapped in the heat retarding, flame-resistant fibers.

During the Great Depression, residents of the "Dust Bowl" of the US Southern Plains region attempted to insulate their homes from the choking dust storms by using strips of cloth coated in flour-based glue or paste. These could then be pasted over cracks around window and door frames to try and keep out the dust. City dwellers often did something similar with newspapers, stuffing them in cracks in window frames in hopes of keeping their frigid tenement apartments a bit warmer against winter’s chill.

Asbestos continued to be the main source of both industrial and residential insulation through the 19th and mid 20th centuries, though. World War II saw it being used in aircraft and ship production. In the 40’s and 50’s, mineral wool or rock wool started to overtake asbestos in popularity, however. Having been "discovered" in the 1870’s a safer manufacturing process led to its wider spread use among construction and industry.

The rediscovery in the mid-1970’s of asbestos’s harmful health effects signaled the death knell for asbestos materials in building construction. You’ll still find it keeping your automotive breaks and clutches cool, however, and crysotile is still being mined in some countries.

With the decline of asbestos, other forms of insulation had to be found and found quickly. Fiberglass insulation comes in various forms and is considered to be the "traditional" choice in home insulation. Styrofoam sheets and PVC wraps are now available. Concerns over the ecology and environment have led to the "discovery" of several forms of insulation considered to be more environmentally sound. Paper cellulose, recycled cotton denim and even sheep wool are being touted as the new wave in insulation. Imagine, cloth and wool as insulating materials? Perhaps we haven’t come that far after all!

By: Roberto Bell

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Spray Foam Direct features quick and easy do-it-yourself foam insulation kits which will save you money and energy. Guardian Energy Technologies Inc. offers the added benefits of reducing our carbon footprint by offering foam it green solutions and balancing their impact through carbon reproduction projects. Visit online at www.sprayfoamdirect.com/ for more information.

Insulation grants in Wales | Insulation Grants

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Cavity Wall Insulation Grants – Carry Out Wall Insulation Free Of Charge

If your house is lined up in the same queue along with buildings which were constructed after 1930s with cavities in the outside walls, it is a suitable receipt of cavity wall insulation grants. One of the most effective methods to save heat from getting wasted from your household is cavity wall insulation and money from being waster through cavity wall insulation grants. This type of home insulation process fills hollow space up between skins of walls with suitable insulated materials that are potent to obstruct about 40% heat loss.

soundproofing materials

General buildings made with dual layers keeping small gaps in between are eligible for cavity wall insulation grants which meet cost of injecting insulation materials inside. Cavity wall insulation grants are also provided to encourage reducing carbon dioxide emission. Burning energy fuels leads to losing about 1 tonne of carbon dioxide gases that even accelerates global warming. Therefore, these cavity wall insulation grants are highly functional in making environment a greener place to live and breathe in by preventing substantial carbon dioxide emission and combating against rampant climate change occurrences.

Besides porous walls, there are some more conditions to be met by homeowners to qualify their properties for either full or partial cavity wall insulation grants. You can easily qualify for grants when you own your home or else, as a tenant, you need landlord’s permission before applying for cavity wall insulation grants. Other mandatory criteria includes when you are receiving following benefits -

* Disablement Benefit
* Child Tax Credit with annual income less than 15,592
* Working Family Tax Credit with annual income less than 15,592
* Disability Living Allowance
* Pension Credit
* Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
* Housing Benefit
* Council Tax Benefit
* Disabled Persons Tax Credit
* War Disablement Pension such as Mobility Supplement, Constant Attendance Allowance
* Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

why insulate

Availability of cavity wall insulation grants makes entire process installing this typical home insulation extremely absolutely affordable. And even in some cases, cavity wall insulation grants enable homeowners installing insulation for absolutely free of charge. Properties entitled to even partial cavity wall insulation grants can save around 130 to 160 pounds from their energy bills, as per studies taken by Energy Saving Trust. Easy pay back facility accessible allows users to pay off costs in two years.

By: Jack William

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Jack William is an article author, who bring the information about cavity wall insulation and cavity wall insulation grants, through article, news, press release and blog. For more details visit our home insulation grants website. www.homeenergysaver.co.uk/

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