Insulation refers to materials which provide substantial resistance to heat movement. Heat flow into and out of buildings can be greatly reduced by insulating floors, ceilings and walls.
Higgins Insulation works in two ways: In winter, insulation helps keep the heat in, and in summer, it helps keep the heat out. There are two main types of insulation:
Bulk Insulation
Bulk insulation locks air inside its fibres and creates areas full of concentrated air, which actively resist the flow of heat. This type of insulation is available in batts or blankets.
Reflective Insulation
Reflective insulation combines reflection of heat from its metal surface with a layer of still air underneath it. This still air offers extra insulation and decreases conductivity of heat to other materials. This type of insulation works more efficiently at blocking heat in the summer than retaining heat in the winter.
For maximum effectiveness, reflective insulation should be kept clean and free from dust.
Advantages of Insulation
There are many advantages to using insulation. In addition to keeping buildings warm or cool, depending on the season, insulation saves energy and can reduce the cost of heating and cooling by more than 40%. Buildings with insulation require approximately 70% less heating and cooling energy than those that are not insulated.
Insulation also helps to protect the environment by reducing the quantity of fuel used to create energy for heating and cooling purposes, which in turn, decreases the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Using less energy helps to preserve the stores of non-renewable energy sources and cuts the production of greenhouse gases by approximately 9 tones per year per household.