46 June 2014
InTheTrenches
Spray Poly
Foam
Part-3
Our Love-Hate Relationship with
ou want to reduce your carbon foot-
print and know that a great way to
begin the process is by re-insulating
your home. You've even been told
that you may currently be losing as
much as 40% of your home's energy efficiency
due to excessive air infiltration. You've done
some research and found that the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star
program estimates that by adding insulation
and sealing air leaks you can save up to 20%
on your monthly energy bills. You've also found
that the U.S. Department of Energy estimates
that 56% of the energy used in a home goes to
heating and cooling; your home's heating, ven-
tilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system has
a big effect on your utility bills and your energy
consumption, especially when it has to work
harder to keep up with excessive air leakage.
Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) offers a solu-
tion for all of this: it acts as both an insulator
and an air sealant, closing those nooks and
crannies that let air escape your home. It can
Y
"Build it Tight and Ventilate it Right"