Home owners today pay hundreds of dollars in energy bills each month.  Most are unaware that they have a measure of control over their home energy usage, and have opportunities to significantly reduce their heating and cooling bills. Turning lights off, reducing hot water temperature, and using the dishwasher less can help, but these are relatively small benefits compared to proper insulation.

Proper home insulation can keep your energy bills down — both winter and summer — keep your house more comfortable, and keep it quieter!

According to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for 50-70% of the energy used in the average American home; 20% for lighting, appliances, and heating water; and between 10-30% for everything else.
Even in newer homes, adding insulation can help reduce energy bills.  Unless special attention was paid to energy efficient construction methods, your insulation may not be adequate.

What product should I choose for insulating my home?
Cellulose, Foam, Fiberglass, and Mineral Wool are among the most common home insulation options.  They are economical, readily available, and familiar to most contractors. The ambitious homeowner — with the right instructions and equipment — can even install some of these products on his/her own.
Through 30 years of research, Ace & Sons chooses to use only Cellulose and Foam Insulation, and here's why:

R-FOAM:
Ace & Sons R-Foam Insulation - is versatile. It can be used to re-insulate older homes that contain little or no insulation, even if the wall cavity is partially filled with old, ineffective insulation.  R-Foam does what others cannot, flowing through empty space and across old material to fill the wall cavity.  R-Foam can be injected into the wall cavity from either the interior or exterior of the home. It can even be installed behind existing brick.
    R-Foam is biodegradable and excess foam is easily cleaned up and disposed of. R-Foam is a Class A building material and meets or exceeds all testing requirements of current building standards.
    R-Foam foam solves the problem of drafty walls in poorly insulated homes. R-Foam is non-expanding injection foam that can be injected into walls of existing homes. It can be installed from the inside through the drywall or from the outside through the exterior siding or brick.

CELLULOSE:
Cellulose insulation is primarily composed of shredded, recycled newspaper together with small amounts of cardboard. It has a fluffy consistency and can be sprayed — damp or dry — into wall cavities and attics. Treated with boric acid, cellulose insulation is a natural insect repellent, mold inhibitor, and fire retardant. 
    For the health conscious, blown cellulose is the safe choice.  While producing some dust during installation, it contains NO CANCER CAUSING FIBERS. It is safe for both installers and homeowners!
    For the environmentally conscious, cellulose insulation is the smart choice as it recycles many tons of newspaper that would otherwise be taking up space in landfills.

FIBERGLASS:
One of the most common and well known insulation options is Fiberglass. It is made from silica sand heated to very high temperatures to produce glass, and then spun into micro-fibers. It is the most popular insulation option on the market and comes in batts, rolls, and loose-fill. Fiberglass doesn’t shrink, won’t burn, and is not inviting to insects.
In new construction, fiberglass batts can be installed in wall cavities and between floor joists. Loose-fill fiberglass can also be blown into wall cavities and in attics and ceilings.
    Fiberglass is fairly inexpensive and effective, but it poses some potential health risks.  Cancer warnings are posted on most fiberglass insulation products sold in the United States. The microscopic glass slivers can easily break loose and be inhaled, irritating and lodging in the respiratory system. Prolonged exposure could lead to reduced lung capacity or cancer.
    In addition, standard fiberglass is manufactured with a formaldehyde-based binding agent that gives off vapors that could potentially affect installers and home occupants. Formaldehyde is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a probable human carcinogen.  Some manufacturers, such as Owens Corning, have introduced formaldehyde-free fiberglass insulation. Miraflex is soft and not as irritating to the skin as its older counterparts.

MINERAL WOOL:
In the past, Mineral Wool (or Rock Wool) was the most widely used insulation option in the USA and Canada. It is a fibrous insulation made from stone and/or iron ore waste from the steel making industry. Like fiberglass, it comes in blankets or can be blown in as loose fill.
    Heavier than fiberglass and cellulose, mineral wool is moisture-resistant and retains its insulating properties even when wet. It is an excellent acoustic insulator and can withstand temperatures of over 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.