Facts about Insulation and Energy Efficiency
Fiber glass, rock wool, and slag wool insulation systems are proven energy efficient technologies which after the initial production require no energy to save energy. Unlike other “energy-saving” products that merely claim to reduce the amount of energy they use, fiber glass, rock wool, and slag wool insulation’s major purpose is to save energy. Insulation begins working from the time it is installed, lasts for the life of the building, and requires no further assistance unless damaged.
Here are some additional interesting facts about the energy saving benefits of fiber glass, rock wool and slag wool insulation:
- Insulation reduces average home heating and cooling costs by around 20%.
- Insulation currently in place in U.S. buildings reduces the amount of carbon dioxide by 780 million tons each year.
- This is the equivalent of over 150 coal-fired power plants.
- This is the equivalent to the electricity use of over 90 million homes for one year.
- This is the equivalent to the output of 1.645 billion barrels of oil or the energy equivalent of 5.5 barrels of oil per American.
- For every Btu consumed in the production of insulation, 12 Btus are saved each year by the use of insulation.
- For every pound of carbon dioxide emitted in the production of insulation, 330 pounds of carbon dioxide are avoided by the use of insulation.
- All insulation products installed in U.S. buildings save consumers about 12 quadrillion Btus annually, or about 42% of the energy that would have been consumed with no insulation in place.
- This is the equivalent of 40 million Btus or 7 barrels of oil per person per year.
- This is the equivalent of 28 barrels of oil saved by each U.S. family of four per year.
- Insulation saves over 600 times more energy each year than all of the compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), Energy Star Appliances, and Energy Star windows combined.
- According to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling systems use more than half of the energy consumed in American homes. Typically, 42% of the average family’s utility bill goes to keeping homes at a comfortable temperature. The energy sources that power these heating and cooling systems emit more than 500 million tons of carbon dioxide and 12% of the nitrogen oxide emissions, the active components in acid rain. By combining proper equipment maintenance, upgrades, insulation, weatherization, and thermostat management, you can reduce your energy bills and emissions by half.
- Fiber glass and rock and slag wool products are reusable. They can be easily removed and put back into place.
- In residential and commercial buildings, energy efficiency through insulation is the simplest and most cost effective way to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
