Fiberglass has been insulating homes since the 1930’s. Initially, wood would be used for insulation but wood is inflammable and so man had to come up with better ideas. And that’s how the idea of man-made fiber was conceived.
The first fiberglass patent was made from alumino-borosilicate glass. In high temperatures, this glass softens and can be drawn into long, thin strands which are capable of cooling without hardening. Once cooled the fiberglass is fabricated into thick narrow sheets called batts, and tucked into walls and between rafters, providing fireproof insulation.
Fiberglass is a poor conductor of heat and has the ability to capture air
Heat works by exiting molecules, and all materials will usually respond to this excitement though to different extents. When molecules are exited, they move faster which enables energy to travel within a material.
When heat is transferred between two substances that are in direct contact, this is called conduction. The material through which the heat energy travels is called the conductor. Good conductors are materials that allow heat to travel through them faster. Glass is a poor conductor of heat.
Fiberglass also has a mechanism of trapping air between several layers of spun glass which prevents heat from travelling through them. Cotton and cellulose can also trap air and have actually been used for insulation purposes in the past but they tend to settle over time often resulting in a reduction in the amount of air captured and therefore loss of insulation capabilities. Fiberglass can hold the captured air for a very long period of time.
Today, when home owners think about saving on energy costs and utility bills, one of the first things they think about is fiberglass. And fiberglass insulation never disappoints.
Want more tips on energy & money savings from D&D Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Heating? Sign up to receive our newsletter by clicking HERE or on the image below?
- Increasing insulation in the home will save you on monthly utility bills
- Insulations also add to year-round comfort in the home
- You’ll save up to 10% on total energy costs and as much as 20% on heating and cooling needs.
Not perfect
However, fiberglass is not perfect. Its manufacture requires heavy use of boron and with boron prices on the rise there is need to find alternatives, one of which is to use recycled glass. Guardian Insulators now use 5% post-industrial recycled glass and 30% post-consumer recycled glass in all its fiberglass products as a sign of support for this initiative.
Receive more tips on energy & money savings from D&D Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Heating. Sign up for our newsletter and be entered to win a $200 gas card or by clicking on the image below.
