Tulsa Partners April Newsletter

Wow, who keeps turning up the outdoor thermostat? I am always surprised how quickly summer heat (as well as the electric bill) rises! This month I want to talk about a few ways to help keep your house cooler as well as your utility cost down. Heat will seep in through every crack and crevice it finds. Heat flows naturally from warmer to cooler space. In winter, the heat will move from the heated living space to adjacent unheated attics, garages, basements and even the outdoors. In summer, heat flows from the outdoors to the interior of a house. Insulation is one of best weapons against this inevitable occurrence. When we insulate a house we typically look at the R-value of the insulation. R-value is a materials ability to slow down heat loss or heat gain through Thermal Conduction. There are three ways heat is transferred. Thermal conduction, thermal convection and thermal radiation. Thermal Convection is the transfer of heat energy in the form of gas or liquid i.e. hot showers, boiling water, using hot water in the laundry cycle, etc. But let's face it, most of us will never give up those luxuries no matter how high the utility bill. The last is Thermal Radiation, which is the heat transferred by infrared rays i.e.: heat from the sun or heat from your body. R-value has little effect on heat transferred by convection and radiation.

Air quality is always an issue when you start putting foreign substances in your environment. When we look at standard insulation you will find all kinds of materials used to make the product. Depending on whether you have insulation from the 70's (or earlier) or have newer insulation in your walls or attic, there are always health issues to be considered.. Insulation can consist of asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI), fiber glass, minerals, wool, cellulose, cotton, as well as some other material. There are health concerns when looking at the older insulation. Even the up to code insulation today can cause skin and sinus irritation if you are sensitive to chemicals used to produce these products.

There are earth friendly alternatives to traditional insulation. Cotton insulation is environmentally friendly as well as effective in cutting heat transfer. The cotton comes from cutting rooms at companies that make denim clothing. The fiber is 100 percent post-industrial waste, meaning it comes from factories, not from jeans people have worn. The finished product winds up being 85 percent cotton, 10 percent fireproofing and 5 percent polyolefin. Batts contain no formaldehyde, the most common binder in fiberglass insulation. One company boasts "Our cotton batts have an insulating value of R-3.7 per inch." In a thickness that works for 2-by-4 framing, it rates R-13. The thicker, better-insulating R-21 product works with 2-by-6 framing. The fireproofing is usually boric acid. Borates are very low-toxic to humans and other mammals, but they are very effective in adding fire resistance. They also deter chewing insects (including termites, carpenter ants and cockroaches) and various kinds of fungi.

Soy Spray Foam Insulation is another popular environmentally friendly choice in insulation. Soy foam insulation contains no volatile chemicals or other toxic emissions. Resistant to mold and mildew, soy foam insulation is sprayed on; the product expands in the wall, filling gaps for a tight seal. The Soy based insulation is free of formaldehyde. This product may also reduce building costs by decreasing the amount of lumber used. The spray foam insulation can also help create a quieter environment. The tight pocket that is keeping the heat in or out can also keep noise levels to a minimum. Insects and rodents do not find the taste enjoyable, so you will not have them munching on your insulation. Unlike a batt filled insulation, a spray foam insulation will not loose it's R-value over time due to settling.

Well, we have covered ways to control Thermal Conduction heat transfer,(as well as Thermal Convection causes) now lets take a look at solving the Thermal Radiation transfer issue. Radiation is responsible for u to 75% of heat transferred through a buildings envelope. Radiant barrier technology is the solution. The applied material contains proprietary elements which reflect radiant heat back towards its source. In summer, a similar amount of radiant energy from the sun is reflected back reducing the absorption of heat in a home. In the winter, about 65% of a buildings heat which normally escapes through the roof's surface is reflected back into the building, reducing the loss of heat. Radiant barriers preform a function that is similar to that of a conventional insulation, in that they reduce the amount of heat that is transferred from the attic into the house. They differ in the way they reduce the heat flow. A radiant barrier reduces the amount of heat radiated across an air space that is adjacent to the radiant barrier. The primary function of conventional insulation is to trap still air within the insulation, and reduce heat transfer by air movement (convection). The insulation fibers or particles also partially block radiation heat transfer through the space occupied by the insulation. Since the performance of radiant barriers depends on many variables, simple R-value ratings have not been developed for them. Radiant barriers can be a spray on form or a solid for that comes in sheets, accordion folds or rolls. The spray on type will have to be applied by a professional , the rolls, accordion folds or sheets can be purchased and installed by the home owner. If you are not a DIYer you can have the installation done by a professional. One advantage with radiant barriers is that it covers the entire surface of the roof. Which means, heat will not sneak in through the seams and joists.