| Insulation is a material that is used to slow down or | | | | The energy savings resulting from good insulation add |
| reduce the flow of energy. The substances used to | | | | up to big dollar savings. Interestingly, current insulation |
| produce insulating materials are poor conductors of | | | | levels save U.S. homeowners approximately $74 billion |
| heat and electricity. | | | | dollars in energy costs each year, or an average of |
| Insulators can be of several types. Thermal insulators | | | | $780 per household. Without insulation, homeowners in |
| slow down the transfer of heat energy, acoustic | | | | the U.S. typically spend about $2,000 on energy each |
| insulators reduce the flow of sound and electrical | | | | year; whereas, with the use of insulators, they spend |
| insulators prevent the flow of electrical energy. | | | | an average of only $1,200. Current insulation levels |
| Materials like fiberglass, rock wool and slag wool are | | | | have helped cut residential energy bills by forty per |
| widely used by the insulation industry. A large variety | | | | cent. Commercial building owners are also saving |
| of materials may be used to make the insulators. | | | | money on their heating and cooling bills by over $9.6 |
| These include organic, inorganic, rigid, soft, fibrous or | | | | billion dollars a year nationwide, or an average of |
| granular materials. Generally, organic insulators are | | | | $2,100 a year per building. |
| produced from petrochemicals and recycled plastic, | | | | Though existing insulation is saving enormous amounts |
| while inorganic insulators are made from recycled | | | | of energy and pollution, there remains a substantial |
| glass and furnace slag. | | | | potential for cost-effective investments in building and |
| An interesting research revealed that the insulation | | | | industrial insulation. Residential buildings, commercial |
| industry is among the leading industries in the U.S. It not | | | | buildings and industrial plants, which are insulated with |
| only strengthens the U.S. economy and increases | | | | proper protocols, not only save energy but also help |
| monetary savings for consumers, but also helps | | | | avoid a substantial amount of air pollution as well. |
| improve the state of the global environment. | | | | |