LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

The “in” on insulation

Whether you live in a cold climate like the North Pole or a warm climate like sunny Southwest Florida, proper insulation makes all the difference in maintaining the temperature in your home while keeping your energy costs manageable.

No insulation, regardless of its resist heat flow (R-value), can totally stop conducted heat flow. Properly installed insulation slows conducted heat flow to allow heating and air conditioning systems to maintain comfortable indoor conditions at reasonable costs. Since different areas of your home are exposed to different circumstances, it is important to have the right insulation in place.
Generally speaking, insulation is of five basic types: rigid board, blankets and batts, loose fill, sprayed foam, and radiant barrier. Below is some basic information on these types of insulation.

Rigid Board Insulation:
• Usually foam boards made from Polystyrene or urethane.
• Offers highest R-value per thickness, but typically more expensive than other types of insulation.

Blankets or Batts:
• Made from glass fiber or rock wool.
• Available in various R-values (thicknesses) and easily installed during construction, but hard to retrofit to finished homes.

Loose-Fill Insulation:
• Made from glass fibers, rock wool or cellulose fiber.
• Usually least expensive insulation.
• Best for attic floors but can be placed in other locations in your home.

Sprayed-Foam Attic Insulation:
• Sprayed on the inside part of the attic.
• Reliably seals home from leaks when applied properly.

Radiant Barrier:
• Layer of aluminum foil placed in air space between heat-radiating and heat-absorbing surfaces.
• Blocks 95 percent of heat radiated down.

Visit the Energy Efficiency tab on lcec.net for more detailed information on insulation.