From Guest Blogger Roxana: Why Advanced Insulation Solutions Are Key In Achieving Energy Efficient Buildings

Apart from many other “smart” energy-saving solutions that target the way we live and work in energy efficient buildings, nothing is as effective as good old insulation. However, insulation has a brand new suit. Let’s introduce the most popular home insulation solutions.

Interior Insulation

Before you start considering your options you need to determine if your house has solid or cavity exterior walls. The cavity wall is a sort of insulation by itself, as the air between the brick layers is twice as effective in trapping heat as a solid brick wall. Solid brick wall internal insulation costs more than insulating a cavity wall, but the energy savings will be greater.

There are several ways to insulate a solid brick wall from the inside, including rigid insulation boards and building a stud wall filled with insulation material such as mineral wool. When compared to external insulation, internal solutions are generally cheaper to install, however it will reduce the floor area of the rooms in which it is applied, as the thickness of the insulating layer is around 100 mm. in addition, during the installation, skirting boards door frames and external fittingsneed to be removed and refitted back.

Roof

The roof is directly exposed to sunlight and as such directly related to your AC operation on hot days, as up to 45% of cooling energy is lost via the roof. There are two principal solutions for roof insulation, each suitable for different building types.
• Cool roof – upgraded with material that reflects more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. You can either refit the existing roof with heat reflective material, or if the slope is steeper, re-cover the roof with waterproofing surface. The last solution is to replace the complete roof with reflective tiles or shingles.
• Green roof – a solution perfect for urban buildings with flat or low sloping roofs. Apart from its excellent insulation properties, this type of roof is used for storm water management and it also provides a leisure green surface. This project is significantly costlier than a cool roof, but the reward is bigger.

Exterior Insulation

In addition to insulating the home from leaking heat or cool air generated by the AC, external insulation has many other benefits. Not mentioning that it can be performed with absolutely no disruption to the household, exterior wall cladding is a perfect example of renewing the appearance of outer walls, especially if you use natural stone. Moreover, it doesn’t shrink the interior room floor area and also improves walls’ waterproofing and sound resistance.

Over the years cracks and gaps that appear in brickwork, despite being barely noticeable can amount to a serious energy black hole. Exterior insulation takes care of that problem, increasing the lifespan of your walls by protecting the brickwork. However, as it considers building external appearance, you may need a council permission to do it, and it is highly not recommended for walls that are damaged beyond repair.

Insulation solutions are in general more expensive than other energy-saving tricks and may require serious budgeting, but the effects are much greater. Not to mention the property value increase after the roof and the walls have been insulated and protected.