Lowering Your Energy Costs in Arizona

Arizona Energy Pros specializes in reducing your electric bills.  We do this though properly installed insulation products & attic ventilation. Arizona Energy Pros will reduce your overall energy consumption, therefore dramatically lowering your monthly bill.

How do I know if I need more insulation?

Sometime more insulation is necessary, but without an energy audit you could be playing guessing games. We recommend a consultation to see what’s really happening in your attic. You may find that a simple insulation tune-up, may do the trick. An insulation tune-up is a readjustment of your current insulation.

Do I have proper Attic Ventilation?

Is poor ventilation in your attic contributing to your out-of-control energy costs? Learn about the role attic ventilation plays in heating and cooling your home and how adequate ventilation, combined with a radiant barrier system, could dramatically lower your bills.

What Does Proper Insulation Look Like?

There are several reasons why insulation usually underperforms in real world applications. The most common are misalignments, bridged areas at soffits or arches, compressed batts or improperly blown in cellulose, and blowback caused by wind at the eves of a home. At first glance everything may look fine but take a closer look – these areas are hard to spot without some digging. Insulation, in order to be most effective, MUST be in contact with the surface that faces the conditioned space. Any gaps or voids allow hot attic air to migrate past and transfer heat to the conditioned space via conduction. Remember that insulation only slows heat transfer, NOT air movement. If the air gets past, it brings heat with it.

Insulation works by providing a continuous boundary of the “building envelope,” between conditioned indoor spaces and unconditioned outdoor spaces. Low levels of insulation, plus gaps and voids in the insulation materials can provide pathways for heat and air to easily flow into or out of a home. Approximately 40 percent of feeling physically comfortable is due to radiant heat exchange between our bodies and the surrounding interior surfaces. Increasing insulation reduces this radiant heat exchange, maintaining a more consistent level of comfort throughout a house.

Will insulation help to lower my utility bills?

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Building Technology’s number one recommendation to help consumers reduce energy bills is by adding insulation. Most homes in the United States are not well insulated. Older homes are particularly vulnerable, leading to high heating and air-conditioning bills. Having an energy efficient home starts with proper levels of insulation. When homes are adequately insulated, it takes less energy to heat and cool them than if they were poorly insulated. Insulation in your walls and attic keep the living space conditioned and allow your Heating and/or Air Conditioning source to run more efficiently, thus reducing your energy consumption.

Will getting more insulation make my home more comfortable?

Is your home cold in the winter and hot in the summer? Is the temperature upstairs between 8 to 12 degrees different from the temperature downstairs? Insulating your home will help keep your living space or “Comfort Zone” consistent throughout your home. This makes for a more comfortable living space throughout your home.

Can insulation increase my home resale value?

Installing proper insulation levels can also make your home more attractive to potential buyers. 86% of Americans would choose one home over another based on its energy efficiency. (Energy Pulse Survey, 2006)

But doesn’t my house already have insulation?

It probably doesn’t have enough. In much of the housing in America, attic insulation levels are inadequate at best. That’s because many homebuilders only offer standard (not optimal) levels of attic insulation, in order to maintain competitive selling prices. Obviously, the older the home, the less likely it is to have adequate attic insulation. But even in a newer home, additional attic insulation will save enough money in reduced utility bills to pay for itself, and those savings will, of course, continue year after year. Upgraded attic insulation will also increase the value of your house.

If you can see the top edge of the rafters, you are way under insulated

In a typical home you commonly see several of these problems in varying degrees. Any combination of these problems can have a dramatic effect on the overall home efficiency. The typical home here in the valley has R-30 worth of insulation; however, if JUST 5% of the total insulated area has defects, the R-value can be reduced by up to 50%, bringing the actual R-value of a home to R-15! Heat gain through attics can affect the home in ways that can drive up the cooling costs considerably, especially during summer. It can also make individual rooms hotter than others. Take your time and check all areas carefully because a small inconsistency can cause big problems. Take advantage of a promotion we are running that will help you determine how effective your current insulation is.

Insulation is the most requested energy improvement by our customers. On an existing home, we recommend blown in insulation to fill the gaps where your insulation has over time lost its effectiveness and overall R-value. In the Southwest, especially in Arizona, Radiant Barrier is a great product to add on top of your existing insulation (especially if your insulation material is older) making the combination a better investment and overall R-value more stable over time.

What Types of Insulation is there?

There are some four main types of insulation: spray foam, loose fill, batts and blankets, and rigid board insulation. Your selection will be based on what type of construction, as well as code requirements, and whether its a pre existing home, or a new construction build.

Spray foam insulation is made up of two-part liquid containing a polymer (such as polyurethane or urethane) and of course, a foaming agent. It is applied through a nozzle into the cavity of the wall, ceiling, or floor. As it is sprayed, it then it expands into a solid pourous plastic with literally millions of tiny air-filled cells that then fills the applied space, while compensating for areas not otherwise possible with other insulation types.

Cellulose fiber is composed of recycled newspapers and is chemically treated to be fire and moisture resistant. (It is necessary to check that the bags are clearly labeled to show that the material meets federal prerequisites for fire resistance). By employing a dry-pack or moist-spray process, cellulose fiber can be installed in walls, floors, or attics.

Batt and blanket insulation consists of mineral fiber (either processed fiberglass or rock wool) and is utilized to insulate below floors, above ceilings, and inside walls. Usually, batt insulation is the most economical wall insulation material but demands meticulous installation for proper performance.
This kind of insulation is ideal for a standard joist, rafter, or stud spacing of 16 or 24 inches. Batts and blankets come in widths to firmly fit between the wood-framing members; some include a radiant barrier backing. Batts normally come in lengths of 4 or 8 feet. Blankets come in long rolls that are cut to the specified length for installation. Both batts and blankets typically have an R-value of around R-3 per inch of thickness.