Planet earth. It’s the only home we have. And for that reason (and others!), more and more people are considering the environmental impact of their choices before making decisions about what to do or buy.
In ways both large and small, making eco-friendly lifestyle choices can cut back on pollution and waste, promote cleaner air and water, and protect the big planet that we all call home.
And yes, insulating your home is another way you can help protect the earth. Home insulation in general—and foam insulation in particular—are great choices for those who are environmentally conscious.
Here’s the biggest and most obvious advantage of insulation in general, from an environmental perspective.
If your home is well insulated, your home is better able to maintain its current internal temperature regardless of what’s going on outside. You don’t need to run the furnace as hot or as long during the winter, and you don’t need to run the air conditioner as often during the summer.
That delivers a cost savings, but it also delivers a pollution savings. As of 2017, less than 10% of Michigan’s energy production came from clean and renewable sources.
A significant majority comes from fossil fuels (coal and natural gas) with high levels of emissions (carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, etc.), with a fair amount of the state still supplied by nuclear power (which has its own problems with waste and pollution).
Simply put, the less energy and electricity you need to use, the smaller your environmental impact and carbon footprint. And good insulation can reduce your need for energy and electricity significantly.
Naturally, all types of insulation can reduce your energy use and, therefore, your personal environmental impact. However, it’s also obvious that not all types of insulation would do this equally well.
The types of foam insulation we carry can offer extremely high R-values
per inch, making it exceptionally good at reducing your energy needs. Better yet, foam insulation does a much better job at maintaining its performance level over time than most other insulation technology. It won’t deteriorate as quickly, which means that it’s a better option than say, fiberglass. And because foam lasts longer, that advantage over fiberglass gets better with every year.
Furthermore, foam material itself—when properly installed and handled by trained professional—is environmentally safe. In fact, the RetroFoam product, commonly used to insulate older homes with minimum fuss, is biodegradable!
Other types of polyurethane foam do require container disposal should you ever need to replace or discard it, but this is something that a trained installer can easily and safely handle. You shouldn’t have to worry about it posing a danger to the environment, or to your family.
In fact, thanks to the effective resistance to both air filtration and mold development, foam insulation can actually help you keep the air inside your home cleaner, and your family healthier!
If you’re looking for a way to reduce your energy costs, stay more comfortable in your home, and
reduce your family’s environmental footprint, call the team at RetroFoam of Southwest Michigan today! You can reach us at (269) 751-2000, or fill out a contact form online.