Insulation

Why insulate?

An insulated home is a more energy efficient and comfortable home.  It will be warmer in winter and cooler in summer.  As it is warmer in winter, there will be much less condensation, which will result in a healthier home to live in.

Heat will naturally want to travel from a warm temperature zones to a cool temperature zone as it tries to even the temperatures in both areas.  This means in winter the heat inside your home tries to escape outside where it is colder until the temperature inside your home the same as outside.

During winter, the insulation keeps the heat inside the home, reducing the need for heating energy, so you will use less firewood, pellets, electricity or gas thereby saving you money and reducing environment harmful emissions.

During summer, the insulation helps to keep the heat outside the home, particularly heat from the ceiling space, so the house doesn’t get too uncomfortably hot to live in.

Insulation is very cost effective, you only have to purchase it once, and it will last the lifetime of your home without any ongoing costs.  Financially, the savings in energy will pay for the insulation in typically 3 to 5 years without taking the comfort factor into account.  A healthier home means healthier occupants which could save on doctors’ visits and time of work due to sickness.

Insulation also helps with noise control from the outside, and specific noise insulation is available should your home be in a noisier environment such as near main roads and intersections or an airport.

What to insulate?

Ceilings and walls are the most important areas to insulate; about 42% of heat loss occurs through uninsulated ceilings, with about 24% escaping through un-insulated walls.  Uninsulated timber floors account for about 10% heat loss.

Existing Homes:

The walls in existing homes may be difficult to insulate, unless you are considering a complete renovation.  However in most cases the ceiling and floor of an older uninsulated home can be insulated without too many problems.  Ceiling insulation helps to keep the heat inside during winter and the heat outside during summer.  If your home has a wooden floor, insulating the floor will make it feel much warmer and comfortable, and drafts may be eliminated.

 Polystyrene underfloor insulation

New Homes:

For new homes there are regulations and minimum requirements for insulation to satisfy the Building Code.  All external walls and ceiling must be insulated.  In Rotorua the insulation must be to an R-value of R1.8 for walls and R2.2 for ceilings.
However from 30 June 2008, the minimum requirements have increased and will be R1.9 for walls and R2.9 for ceilings.  As R1.9 for walls and R2.9 for ceilings are not being manufactured, the minimum acceptable products available will be R2.2 for walls and R3.2 for ceilings.  These are the minimum levels of insulation acceptable under the Building Code, using insulation with a higher R-value than this minimum will only cost a little extra, however the extra insulation can make a dramatic difference to your comfort levels and energy costs in the long run.  More detailed information on insulation is shown in the NZ Building Code – Clause H1 Energy Efficiency (a PDF which can be downloaded by make clicking here)

  Installing wool wall insulation

What is the R-value?

The R-value or R-rating of insulation is the thermal resistance of the insulation, i.e. the ability to stop heat going through the insulation.  Products with a higher R-value have better insulating properties than products with a lower R-value.

What type of insulation to use?

Insulation can be provided by a variety of materials, some of which are better for different areas of the house. Examples are:

• Fibreglass
• Foam
• Polyester
• Polystyrene
• Wool
• Flax

Installing fibreglass ceiling insulation

When choosing, consider products that:

• Provides the best thermal performance
• Are non-combustible/fire resistant
• Are vermin resistant
• Stay mould-free/will not rot
• Will provide acoustic insulation
• Perform over time
• Come with a BRANZ appraisal
• Are easy to fit if you are doing it yourself
• Are non-toxic/non-irritant
• Won’t sag over time
• Breathe

Rotorua suppliers and installers of home insulation (in alphabetical order):

• Eco Insulation 07-543 2080
• Forman Insulation - phone 07-348-0970
• Pink Fit - phone 0274-518-876

Or visit your local hardware or building supply store.

If you are a supplier or installer of home insulation in the Rotorua area and you are not listed here, please e-mail us your details for consideration:
 info@energychampion.co.nz

Links to manufacturer’s websites (in alphabetical order):

• Bradford Gold  http://www.thermakraft.co.nz/html_version/csr.htm
• Eco Insulation  http://www.ecoinsulation.co.nz/
• Energy Options  http://www.energyoptions.org.nz
• Expol  http://www.expol.co.nz/
• Pink Batts  http://www.pinkbatts.co.nz
• Smart Vent www.smartvent.co.nz
• Wool Block Insulation  http://www.woolbloc.co.nz/products.htm

More information on insulating of homes is available here:

• Smarter Homes  http://www.smarterhomes.org.nz/design/insulation/
• Energy wise  http://www.energywise.org.nz/yourhome/insulation/