Cellulose Insulation
Is Applegate Insulation a sound investment?
For existing homes, an installer of Applegate will have to determine your existing insulation levels and needs to ensure that adding Applegate makes sense for you. Most older homes though can benefit from adding Applegate in the attic. The energy savings from adding Applegate may cover the cost of installation in less then a year, Making retro-fitting your home with Applegate Insulation one of the best investments you can make!
For new homes, Applegate Insulation almost always makes sense from an investment perspective. In just about every case, using Applegate in your new home will pay for itself within a year or two in reduced energy costs alone. When factoring in the potential for downsizing HVAC equipment, the payback can sometimes be immediate! In other words, using Applegate may not cost you anything!
What is the best insulation for a "Green Home" / environment?
That's easy - Applegate Cellulose Insulation.
When you install Applegate Insulation you are helping to protect the environment. Applegate is, made of 80-85% recycled paper, diverting discarded papers that would otherwise be sent to landfills. Applegate Cellulose Insulation also has the lowest embodied energy score of any major insulation. It takes less energy to produce and transport Applegate, which means fewer emissions are released in making it. Fiberglass uses approximately 10 times more energy than Applegate to produce and transport. In addition, fiberglass products are not recyclable. When you combine Applegate's environmentally sound features with its outstanding ability to conserve energy in hundreds of thousands of homes across the country (and worldwide), you would think the color of our insulation would be green!
Can Applegate be installed over existing insulation?
Provided that the existing insulation is properly installed and free from defect (moisture damage, etc.) Applegate Installation may be installed over existing insulation. A little Applegate can go a long way. In fact, as little as 5 inches of Applegate applied over fiberglass in your attic will restore the effective R-value of the fiberglass in heating and cooling seasons.
Are there incentives available from my local utility company?
Utility companies are encouraged through various federal and state initiatives to support consumers and businesses seeking to implement energy conservation programs. Check your utility company’s website or call their local office to find out what incentives are available in your area.
What is R-Value?
R-Value is the industry standard for measuring the insulating power of any material; the higher the R-Value, the higher the insulating power.
What are the thermal benefits of Applegate?
Applegate Insulation has a higher density than many other insulation types available, providing excellent resistance to air-infiltration, radiation of heat energy and convective currents. Additionally, it has a higher R-Value/inch—as much as 3.8-3.9 R/inch depending on product depth and density of application; that means more insulating power with less product.
What are the sound control benefits?
Sound waves move through the air and space. The same density and custom fit provided by Applegate for the purpose of fire safety and thermal control, also increases its ability to control sound. In fact Applegate Cellulose Insulation has a better STC rating than fiberglass. That means a building insulated with cellulose will be very quiet.
What are the fire resistance characteristics?
Applegate Insulation is manufactured and tested by R&D Services (third-party) in accordance with ASTM C739. It meets and exceeds the fire-resistance testing under that standard. For more information regarding how, in fire tests, Applegate out performs traditional insulation by 55%.
How does Applegate recommend we insulate cathedral ceilings?
Applegate recommends that you dense pack non-ventilated cathedral ceilings. One building science study entitled "Report On Roof And Wall Details: Upper Canada Post And Beam" points out that cathedral ceilings are, "nothing more than well insulated exterior walls with insulating sheathing which is sloped." Applegate has been used for years to dense pack cathedral ceilings with excellent results, outperforming the ventilated method.
Heat Transfer Definitions
- Conduction is the transfer of heat through a solid material, such as heat being transferred from warmer sections of walls and ceilings to cooler areas.
- Convection is the transfer of heat by moving air, like warm air rising to the ceiling.
- Radiation is the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves, such as heat being transferred from the roof of a home to the ceiling.