How Insulation Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

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A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from an individual. Our goal is to help you reduce your carbon footprint and that starts with the energy efficiency of your home. Reducing your carbon footprint starts with using less energy. There are many little ways to do this in your very home.

For example, LED light bulbs use around 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs. Changing your light bulbs is one simple way of making your home energy efficient, but there are many other ways as well. Making sure your home has the proper insulation is one of them.

Insulation reduces home energy consumption like this: it prevents heat loss and gain.

If your house is without proper insulation, you could be using up to 30% more energy in your home than if you had working insulation. Not only does this affect your carbon footprint, but it gives you a higher energy bill as well, making you lose money.

The solution: Begin with a home energy audit and see if your home needs new insulation.

Getting a home energy audit will tell you how much energy you could be saving in your home and whether or not you need new insulation. Home energy audits pinpoint problem areas in your home and give you a start to knowing how to reduce your carbon footprint. By getting new insulation if needed, you will be reducing your home’s energy consumption and reducing your energy bill giving you all kinds of savings.

If you are interested in reducing your carbon footprint, contact the Comfort 1st team today to schedule your home energy audit.

How to Know When It’s Time for an Insulation Replacement

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When your home’s insulation is working properly, it can save you a lot on your home’s energy costs. Those savings are one of the main reasons you should make sure your insulation is working properly. If not, it is time to replace it.

How do you know that it’s time for an insulation replacement? Keep reading to learn more.

Look at your energy bills

Have you noticed an increase in  your cooling or heating costs? That’s a sign that your insulation isn’t working properly. Energy could be escaping through the insulation in your attic or crawl space or even windows and doors.

Bugs and unwanted critters

Your insulation could be housing all types of creatures that you may not want in your home, and you may not be aware of it. These pests can get into the small spaces and create a pest infestation, fast. You can have a team of professionals inspect the insulation, handle the pests, and replace your insulation.

Consistent Drafts

Have you ever walked into a room in your home to find that it’s much cooler than other rooms? Like there’s a draft in the room? That is a sure sign of insulation failure. The way that insulation works are that it provides a buffer between the air inside your home and the air outside of your home. Insulation that’s failing can limit that buffer of air. When that buffer no longer exists, it’s easy for cool or warm air to blow inside your home, which will create that draft.

Moisture in the Attic Space

Moisture in your attic insulation can be a terrible health hazard. Mold and mildew thrive in these wet environments, and they can lead to health issues. If your home or parts of your home smell like mold or mildew, inspect your space immediately. Insulation works because it traps air in tiny crevices and air pockets. If these areas are trapping water instead of air, the insulation won’t work. Take a look at the insulation itself for signs of water damage. If things are starting to look wet, Contact a specialist for a more in depth inspection.

Now that you know some signs of improper insulation, watch out for them in your home. If you see some of these signs come up, Call Comfort 1st Insulation for a home inspection and potential insulation replacement.

Fresh Air Ventilation Systems Prevent COVID-19

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What is a fresh air ventilation system?

Fresh air ventilation systems are connected to an existing HVAC system and are used to circulate the air within a structure. Installing a fresh air ventilation system usually goes hand in hand with air sealing a home or business. After sealing off all drafts, cracks and gaps, a fresh air ventilation system is installed in order to circulate clean outside air into the structure. Fresh air ventilation is also important in buildings that have been insulated with spray foam. Spray foam naturally acts as an air seal and allowing the proper amount of air flow into the home or business keeps the environment healthy.

How does installing a fresh air ventilation system prevent COVID-19?

Proper ventilation plays an essential role in COVID-19 prevention in homes, schools, business, and any other establishment where gatherings occur. Allowing ventilated outside air into a structure minimizes the amount of airborne pollutants such as pollen, mold, dirt and viruses. Circulating air and letting a building breathe removes viruses from the air before they ever have the chance to land on any surfaces and spread.

Opening a screened window or door allows air circulation into a building, but may not be the best solution on a hot day when the air conditioning is running or on a cold day when the heater is on. Fresh air ventilation works with the HVAC system of a structure and allows fresh air intake all year long without affecting the temperature of the building.

What is the difference between fresh air ventilation, air filtration , and air purification?

While fresh air ventilation eliminates air pollutants and viruses by circulating fresh air into the structure, air filtration and purification can always be added to the HVAC system for enhanced health protection.

Fresh Air Ventilation brings in fresh air from outside and circulates it throughout the building with the use of the existing HVAC system.

Air Filtration which is installed with the current HVAC system blocks pollutant particles from entering the building by passing the air through fine media filters.

Air Purification is achieved by adding a UV light inside the HVAC system which eliminates and kills close to one hundred percent of airborne viruses, germs and molds from entering the structure.

Does my home need fresh air ventilation?

Oftentimes home or business owners are unaware of poor air quality within the building. A few tell tale signs that a structure needs fresh air ventilation include:

  • The Building Smells Musty
  • Mold Is Found Throughout The Structure
  • Smells Of Cooking Are Present Hours After A Meal Is Made
  • Large Amounts Of Dust Can Be Found Accumulating On Surfaces
  • Condensation Build Up Is Found On Interior Surfaces Or Windows
  • Inhabitants Experience Constant Coughing, Sneezing, Headaches, Runny Noses And Fatigue

Why choose Comfort 1st Insulation for a fresh air ventilation system installation?

Comfort 1st insulation offers a free consultation and estimate on the installation of fresh air ventilation systems which are an effective way in preventing the COVID-19 virus as well as any other air pollutants. Contact our company today and see how a fresh air ventilation system can improve your air quality and health today!

3 Reasons to Insulate Your Home this Summer

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