Conservation & Home Improvement Services
Energy Egghead provides energy conservation services that are diverse and take into account pre-existing circumstances. Energy Egghead is not an insulation company that installs one type of insulation. Our focus is on devising the most practical and cost-effective customized solution. These may include various methods of air sealing or insulating, such as spray foam, loose-fill cellulose, loose-fill fiberglass, rigid foam board, or a combination of methods.
Energy Egghead provides conservation services that may include sealing and insulating an entire building or a targeted area that has been identified as a problem. The adage "no job too small" fits well with our philosophy.
Click
here to view case studies of energy audits and resulting conservation services.
Weatherization & Insulation Options
Sealing and insulation consist of a variety of materials and come in many forms. The good news is that along with advancements in material composition and application methods, sealing and insulation have become more "green" and safer to use. The not-so-good news is that it seems there are too many choices.
| Knowing which material to use for a particular thermal energy-saving improvement requires an understanding of what will work best in each circumstance. It is both an art and a science to analyze each building with an eye toward providing the most cost-efficient approach. Below is a brief introduction to two types of insulation that are advantageous to use for insulation and sealing improvements. |
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Picture shows significant heat loss (bright yellow) escaping through gaps in inadequately installed attic insulation. |
Cellulose
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Hydraulically blown-in
cellulose consists of 85% shredded, fluffed-up recycled newsprint
and about 15% borate-based fire retardant. Borates are environmentally
safe mineral compounds that also help stop and pests. If, when installed,
it is dense-packed, it will have an R-value of 3.0 to 4.0 per inch.
It is easy for filling irregularly shaped areas and around obstructions.
If dense-packed, it provides sealing as well as insulation. The price
for cellulose installation is moderate. |
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These images show blown-in cellulose in an attic space. |
Spray Foam Insulation
Foam insulation that is sprayed into place comes in two basic forms-high-density and low-density foam. Though high-density foam has a higher R-value (6.0 per inch) than low density (3.4 per inch), both are good insulators and more importantly provide effective sealing of air leaks. The additional benefit of spray foam insulation is that it expands, filling in areas entirely that would otherwise be difficult to reach.
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| As opposed to fiberglass batt insulation, spray foam insulation always provides the manufacturer's specified R-value because it is much less vulnerable to installation defects. Even small gaps and compressions in fiberglass can cause a significant decrease in actual R-value. When high-density spray foam insulation is applied in a one- to two-inch layer in combination with fiberglass batts, it allows the batts to perform more closely to the manufacturer's stated R-value because the foam effectively seals the cavity stopping any air from flowing through the fiberglass.
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Energy Egghead technician applies spray foam to a crawl space. |
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Spray foam applied to an attic, both the walls and the ceiling.
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Spray foam used these days is safe and does not contain formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds. Spray foam is resistant to moisture, adheres well to most surfaces, and can even provide additional structural support. The versatility of spray foam makes it very useful in sealing and insulating buildings of all types.
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Above and to the right, spray foam has been applied to rim joists.
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Deep Energy Retrofits
Energy Egghead has the capability to design and implement deep energy retrofits for building owners who are interested in significant reducinging heating and cooling loads. .
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The application of closed-cell foam is a major component of a homeowner’s is Haverhill, MA deep energy retrofit designed to reduce energy costs considerably. |
