Winter
is here, and if that utility bill is high, you are probably already
troubleshooting problem areas of your home. One of largest
contributors to drafty rooms is a lack of insulation. Insulation is
designed to stop air passage through ceilings, walls, and the floor.
The intention is to keep the right air where you want it in each
season. Obviously, the windows and heating source are also important
to maintaining an overall energy efficient program, but having the
right insulation is a key factor.
In
existing homes, it can be difficult to go back and insulate after
the fact. If attic space allows, you can blow-in insulation.
Under-floors and in-between walls can be difficult as well. Even
with your best efforts, there is bound to be some location that is
hard to reach. What if you had a product that you could apply
from the exterior?
Sound a bit like
science-fiction?
SFGate
highlighted
the ingenious concept of Nansulate this past November. It is a
paint-on insulation that suspends specially engineered particles
with low-conductivity in an acrylic base. The particles are
water-resistant, making the paint a weapon against mold and mildew.
Unlike traditional fiberglass insulations, this new product is
non-toxic and environmentally friendly.
So how green is this product? The
company promotes it as a major breakthrough in green endeavors. Not
only does it contribute to creating more energy efficient homes, but
they also make this statement regarding the safety of the
ingredients: "Nansulate® coatings contain none of the ingredients
contained on the EPA listing as Class I or Class II Ozone Depleting
Substances, nor do they contain any ingredients on the listing for
Global Warming Potential (GWP) that are non-ozone-depleting." The
company is anxious to become accepted into the green marketplace.
"We are pleased to see that our Nansulate coatings are becoming a
brand name in the sector of Green Nanotechnology," stated Francesca
Crolley, VP Operations & Marketing. (Nano
Science and Technology Institute)
Sounds
like a pretty good idea, but is it affordable to the average
homeowner? Surprisingly, it is actually quite affordable. At $66
for 150 sqft of coverage, it is an inexpensive alternative to other
forms of insulation. Especially if you take into account the
ability to avoid opening up walls or crawling under houses. The
paint can be applied with a brush, sprayer, or roller. It is applied
to walls, windows, pipes, and water heaters, and can even be applied
over existing paint.
Because
this is a fairly new product and its composition is so different
from traditional insulation materials, it is hard to do a
straight-across-the-board comparison between the two. So far,
however, those who have already used it report a 20-40% savings on
their utility bills.
A relatively new
product, the company is working hard to bring awareness to its
presence. I, like many, was initially skeptical. It sounds a bit too
easy to be effective. They offer several case studies to promote its
efficiency, but each of us will probably have to try it firsthand
before we are believers. It definitely sounds like it is worth
trying-out. Fairly easy to install, why not see how it can help your
energy efficiency this season? Request free estimates from a skilled
painting contractor
in your area to see what this product can bring to your home.
