When comparing different insulation options, one term that you’ll see a lot is “R-value.” Many people know that this term and the numbers attached to it have something to do with energy efficiency, but few have a thorough understanding. At AppleBlossom Energy, we understand that it can be difficult to make educated purchases when you don’t have a firm grasp on exactly what a key descriptive term means, and we want to help make it easier. In this article, we will provide an overview of insulation R-value that should get you up to speed.
As the term is used in building and construction, insulation R-value is a measure of how well a two-dimensional barrier, like a wall or the insulation inside that wall, resists the flow of heat energy. To calculate an R-value for a given material, the difference in temperature between the warm side and the cool side of the surface is divided by the amount of heat flux present in that material. The higher the R-value, the more heat resistance a material has, and the better it works as insulation. If you are comparing two different insulation options, the one with the higher R-value will prevent more heat energy from penetrating the outer barrier of your home.
We hope that this article helps you better navigate the insulation selection process. If you have further questions on insulation R-values or anything else concerning this key part of your building, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at AppleBlossom Energy.