Truth About R Value

 

How much insulation you have in your home will vary based on what type of climate you live in, the construction of your home, what heating equipment you are using and what type of fuel your heating system uses. The U.S. Department of Energy has put together some recommendations for minimum R-values based on where you live in the United States.

 

Not really. R-Values tell only part of the story.

R-Value is a laboratory measurement that measures conduction, but it does not effectively measure the other two methods of heat transfer: convection and radiation. So R-Value is only telling 1/3 of the story of how well your home will be insulated in real world conditions.

 

• Conduction is the transfer of heat through a solid material, such as heat being transferred from warmer sections of walls and ceilings to cooler areas.
• Convection is the transfer of heat by moving air, like warm air rising to the ceiling.
• Radiation is the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, such as heat being transferred from the roof of a home to the ceiling.

 

You need insulation that will protect your home against all three kinds of heat transfer! You need cellulose! Effective R-value is not about a label-it's about performance. In a study by the University of Colorado of Architecture and Planning found that cellulose insulations like cellulose perform as much as 38% better than traditional insulation. 38% better!

 

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