And a real life example of how insulation improved Rhys from Highlands Insulations Mossy home.
Insulation is pretty darn important for most homes but we reckon it’s doubly darn important for homes in the Southern Highlands.
With our rather chilly winters and sometimes scorching summers, we’re all about keeping things comfy indoors without constantly blasting the heater or AC and watching our energy bills skyrocket.
That’s where top-notch insulation comes into play. And to really get why it’s such a big deal for us Highlanders, we had a chat with Rhys from Highlands Insulation.
Rhys and the team at Highlands Insulation are dedicated to providing locals with top-notch thermal, acoustic, and passive fire protection services.
They’re pros at supporting energy efficiency in new homes, retrofitting older homes and making sure everything’s compliant and safe.
Rhys even shared with us how adding high-quality insulation in his own home in Moss Vale was a huge success.
Read on to find out why insulation is such a good investment in the Highlands.
1 :: Quality insulation is a good financial decision
The higher the R-value of insulation the better it will be at keeping your home an even temperature. For example, by increasing from no insulation in your ceiling to R5 insulation the heat loss of a ceiling alone can be reduced by 98%.
After doing all the minus-ing and plus-ing of heating bills versus the cost of installation for us, [thanks Rhys] the conservative estimate is that the average return on investment for upgrading ceiling insulation is 10% a year or better, woah that’s some good dollars saved!
2 :: Insulation reduces heat transfer
Insulation materials act as a barrier from the elements to your home and reduce the rate of heat transfer between the inside and outside. This means that during our cold Highlands winters, the insulation will keep the heat inside for longer, minimising your need for heating. And on the flip side in Summer, it stops excessive heat from entering, reducing your need to pump the aircon.
3 :: Insulation is more energy efficient
Insulation helps to keep the indoor temperature more constant meaning less demand for the heater, the air-con or ventilation. This equals less energy consumption and in turn lower energy bills. More money in your pocket for other fun goodies woo!
4 :: Insulation is better for the environment
So, not only are you saving the dollar-bucks you’re also saving our environment. Lower energy consumption translates to reduced carbon emissions and a reduction in your home’s carbon footprint, yay!
5 :: Insulation has health benefits
Proper insulation can reduce condensation within your home. Condensation is a major contributor to the growth of mould which can be a big health concern. By reducing that yucky condensation in the building, you should be able to maintain a healthier indoor environment.
6 :: Insulation makes homes more comfortable
Whilst we don’t think we should be walking around in shorts and a singlet inside the house in the middle of winter, we also don’t want to be donning a beanie, scarf, coat and slippers just to walk down the hallway. Insulation can eliminate those pesky indoor drafts making your home a comfier place all year round.
7 :: Insulation is a long-term saving
While the initial investment in high-quality insulation may seem significant, the energy savings over time usually outweigh those initial costs. This can lead to quite mighty savings over the lifespan of your insulation. With the ever-rising cost of energy bills, insulation is considered one of the best financial investments you can make to reduce the need for heating and cooling in your home.
8 :: Insulation can support your home towards becoming a passive house
The Passive House (Passivhaus in German) Standard is a design standard that requires a certain level of insulation. This level can reduce the energy used in heating by up to 90% [huge]. Not everyone can knock down their existing house and build a Passive House. But by using passive house principles such as high-quality insulation, tightening up building envelopes, high-performance windows, and passive solar heating and cooling systems, Highland’s homeowners can drop their energy consumption massively. When Highlands Insulation inspects a home, they do so wholistically by considering all aspects that effect thermal performance and energy efficiency.
Rhys’ Own Home:
My family and I live in a 4-bedroom 1990s built brick veneer home in Moss Vale. When we moved in it had no insulation at all because the building code of the time did not mandate it. It was about as thermally poor as a house can be. To top it off, we face directly west on a hill and in summer are blasted with full afternoon sun, so you can only imagine what the temps were like inside both on cold days and hot ones.
By upgrading our insulation, sealing gaps, installing energy-efficient appliances, and harnessing solar power, we managed to reduce our annual energy bill to under $1000! For comparison, many local homeowners I speak to have annual energy bills of between $3000 to $8000 per annum.
In summer our quarterly bill is around $150 and in winter around $350. Our energy costs have easily reduced by 70% since we moved in. Most importantly, our home is wonderfully comfortable all year round!
And we still plan to upgrade the front and back doors to more thermally efficient units and find a dog door that doesn’t blow open in the wind!
WOW, that’s an incredible result!
If you’re considering adding or upgrading the insulation in your home then hopefully this info from Rhys and the gang at Highlands Insulation has given you some excellent reasons as to why it’s a great idea and an even greater investment.
Insulation isn’t just about keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer [although that’s super important], it’s also a smart financial investment that offers proper returns in terms of energy savings, environmental impact, and overall comfy-ness.
If you’d like to know more about getting started on the insulation process, reach out to Rhys at Highlands Insulation who is a total insulation expert. You can give him a buzz at 0424 574 879 or shoot him an email at Rhys@highlandsinsulation.com.au.
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