Insulation — worth while for every home

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 21

Insulation — worth while for every home

. Since 1975. the New Zealand Government has encouraged the insulation of dwellings by the provision of an interest-free loan.

During 1977, a package on energy conservation measures was announced which included proposed legislation to make insulation of all new residential buildings compulsory. This came into effect on April 1, 1978.

This means that insulation is a basic building component and not an optional extra.

However, the advantages to the new home owner and the country as a whole are significant. For the housenolder can either reduce his fuel bills, improve the comfort conditions in his home or even achieve both. So far, as the existing home owner is concerned,

.nvestment in ceiling insulation is well worth while and the new home owner soon discovers the benefits and cost-effectiveness of total insulation in floors, walls and ceilings.

In a home with no insulation. 30 to 40 per cent of the neat inside is lost, no matter what type of heating is installed.

While a new home is being constructed, reflective insulation can be installed behind wall linings, under floors and above ceilings. This heavy paper has either one or both sides coated with aluminium foil and acts as a vapour barrier.

In addition, the spaces between timber framing above the ceiling can be filled with filler insulation, such as fibreglass batts, except for

safety gaps around chimneys and flues.

To avoid problems, the wood in wall cavities must be dry before the cavity is sealed up — but the sealing □ff from floor and ceiling cavities is important to avoid any transference of moisture. In an existing house, it is usually only practical to insulate the ceiling but even so. fuel savings will be achieved and comfort will improve. Remember to lag water pipes above the ceiling against frost damage. Carpet is an effective insulator for the floor. Windows can let a lot of heat escape, since glass is a better heat conductor than wood, and much thinner. In cold countries windows are double glazed but this is still unusual in New Zealand.

Sunshine through windows is a source of free heat,

provided the house is web enough insulated to retain it and curtains are drawn in the evening. For insulation purposes, windows should have substantial drapes of reasonably heavy material lined with a backing. They should project about 75mm on either side ol the window and be long enough to make contact with the sill when drawn. This makes a cavity of dead air between the glass and the drapes, using" the insulating value of this as well as that of the drapes themselves. One change of air each hour is adequate ventilation but too many houses exceed this through draughts from badly fitted doors and windows, creating a need foi more heating. Draughts can be reduced ' by excluders on doors anti foam rubber strips on windows. On the other hand, care . must be taken that a room is not so tightly sealed that humidity rises excessively high.