Insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow and is essential to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer. A well insulated and well-designed home will provide year-round comfort, cutting cooling and heating bills by up to half. This, in turn, will reduce greenhouse emissions.
Climatic conditions will influence the appropriate level and type of insulation you need in your suburb. Establish whether the insulation will be predominantly needed to keep heat out or in (or both). Insulation must cater for seasonal as well as daily variations in temperature. Please visit the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change & Energy Efficiency’s Your Home Technical Manual for types of insulation & how much you’ll need for your region in Australia.
Passive design techniques must be used in conjunction with insulation. For example, if insulation is installed but the house is not properly shaded, built up heat can be kept in by the insulation creating an ‘oven’ effect. Draught sealing is important, as draughts can account for up to 25 percent of heat loss from a home in winter.
The most economical time to install insulation is during construction.