Home Insulation

                                                         Home Insulation
                                   

In winter a solar heated house collects the sun’s heat through glass, then stores it in thermal mass and finally makes sure the house retains heat by wrapping it in insulation. Good insulation is the most important component influencing the benefits that result.  All materials have an insulation value; however, materials such as glass have a very low insulation value, which is why condensation forms on the inside of single glazed windows on cold days. It is important to understand that high thermal mass materials like concrete and brick, in the thicknesses commonly used in buildings, also have poor insulation values. Their function as heat storage is in part due to this ability to conduct heat. Wood of the thickness of a rafter or a stud in a wall has a much higher insulation value than high mass materials, but still much lower than that of materials specifically designed to be used as insulation. In keeping with common practice, when this book refers to ‘insulation’ it means materials with a high insulation value such as fibreglass, polyester, wool or polystyrene.