What is home insulation?
Insulation is a material that keeps the warmth where you want it.
When installed in walls and ceilings, under floors and between them, it works to slow or block the flow of heat energy, so that your home stays cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
As well as helping to keep the internal temperature comfortable, and depending on the type, insulation also helps reduce sounds transferring from outside the home and between rooms.
Why does my home need insulation? Your home needs insulation for four important reasons:
COMFORT
You will want the home you build to be as comfortable as possible in every way.
As well as choosing the style of home you want, you also need to consider your family’s environmental wellbeing. Selection of the right wall, ceiling and floor insulation plays a major role in ensuring that your home’s thermal and acoustic conditions are comfortable year-round – cool in summer, warm in winter, and with less noise transfer from outside and between rooms.
COST
You will no doubt want to cut costs as much as possible when planning life in your new home.
The right insulation is a big step in that direction. This is because making your home energy-efficient also makes it more cost-efficient.
No matter what type of heating unit you use, if your home does not have the right insulation, installed the right way, some of the heat from that unit – heat you are paying for - will escape via the roof, windows, walls and floor. The same thing will happen with cooling devices in summer.
With quality insulation, your home will need less cooling and heating. You will therefore be able to install smaller and less expensive units and will also enjoy reduced energy costs.
CONSERVATION
By reducing the amount of warm and cool air that escapes from your home, you are reducing the amount of energy you use. This means that as well as reducing your power bills, you are also helping to reduce greenhouse emissions.
This could become even more important in view of the growing trend for people to work and study from home. While keeping the temperature of your work area comfortable, you can also do your bit for the environment by making sure your home’s insulation is as effective as possible.
COMPLIANCE
New homes need to meet energy efficiency requirements to comply with the National Construction Code (NCC). The National Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is the most widely used pathway to measure a home’s energy efficiency.
Using various data about your planned new home, which is provided by the architect, builder or energy efficiency specialist, NatHERS generates a star rating. A rating of 7 or above is required in most parts of Australia for detached homes under the current regulations.
What are R-values?
It may bring back memories of the classroom when you hear R-values mentioned, but don’t worry – there’s no science test involved for you!
The R-value simply refers to the performance of your insulation. The higher its R-value, the better its thermal resistance and therefore its effectiveness for improving the comfort inside your home.
The climate of the area where you are building will be a major factor in the R-value minimum requirements. In a hot climate, the required minimum R-value will be lower than in an extremely cold climate.
The appropriate degree of insulation required in your home will also depend on other factors such as the type of construction and whether you plan to use supplementary heating /cooling appliances.
The R-values will vary for insulation in various parts of your home, such as the external walls, ceilings, under floors and between floors. Added together, these values contribute to the overall thermal efficiency of your home.
Henley Homes uses Pink Batts® insulation, a high quality glasswool insulation, manufactured in Australia by Fletcher Insulation and made from up to 80% recycled glass. It is installed on behalf of Henley Homes by insulation experts ee-Fit.