Thermal insulation to avoid energy consumption

Winter arrives and many homes opt to turn on the heating. Or those who find their homes too cold consider installing a traditional air conditioning system. But, if we want to maintain a pleasant temperature and prevent the cold from penetrating the house, the most energy-efficient option is to choose thermal insulation. After all, it is the way that will save us the most on energy at home.

In Spain, the stock of old buildings has many homes in a quite deficient state in terms of airtightness. These are the homes that are very cold in winter and too hot in summer. If, in addition, they are located on the highest floors of a building, the thermal sensation can be very negative.

When winter arrived, what was commonly said was that if you were cold, you should put on a blanket. But, wouldn't it be much more efficient to cover the house with a blanket? This would prevent discomfort throughout the home. Well, that’s what thermal insulation is about; it’s a blanket that protects the home from the outdoor elements. And unlike the blankets we use, it helps maintain good climatic comfort both in summer and in winter.

Nowadays, houses are much more insulating and airtightness is better respected, but in the past, the goal was to minimize costs while compensating with heating and air conditioning systems. This results in too many homes today suffering from energy poverty, as they have excessive consumption of supplies to keep their rooms cooled or heated.

If we compensate for the way cold seeps into our homes with greater heating consumption, what we will be promoting is an ineffective situation:

• The artificial heat from traditional air conditioning in houses with deficiencies in their thermal insulation is often uneven across different points within the same room.
• Heat tends to accumulate in the higher areas of a room, creating a sensation of cold floors and a stuffy head.
• There is no air circulation, which can cause respiratory issues due to stale air.

In contrast, with greater airtightness ensuring thermal insulation, we won't have these problems, as there will be no contrast between the cold inside the home and the heat emitted by the air conditioning source.

We will gain in health, and in addition, save energy. What could implementing better thermal insulation in the home mean? A savings of 30% to 50% on supplies.

If we have a house with poor airtightness or live in an old apartment, how can we improve our thermal insulation?

• It is necessary to change doors and windows. It is through the carpentry that the cold and heat from outside filter into homes. For instance, windows increasingly use PVC as an insulating material, which protects us up to four times more than traditional aluminum carpentry.
• It’s important to consider that the door leading outside may have leaks that allow cold and heat to enter. Improving its thermal insulation is significant to prevent our home from cooling down in winter.
• It is possible to install double-glazed windows instead of single ones. They create an air chamber that can reduce heat loss in winter by up to four times. Additionally, in summer they provide the same protection.
• Walls are areas where heat escapes easily in winter. It is important to thermally insulate them with polystyrene or aluminum foil.
• It is also necessary to insulate the ceiling as this could reduce heating costs by nearly half. Mineral or fiberglass rolls work very well in this regard.

With all these changes, you will achieve a better atmosphere in your home and enjoy more comfort, both in winter and in summer. Because thermal insulation is beneficial in both situations.

Mechanical ventilation, the best ally of thermal insulation

To avoid using traditional air conditioning systems and paying high energy bills, alongside thermal insulation, we have mechanical ventilation systems. Thanks to them, we can renew the air and eliminate heat and cold more effectively.

The double-flow mechanical ventilation can extract air from inside the home and replace it with outside air that has been heated while passing through the ducts. Its energy consumption is similar to that of a light bulb in many cases, and with it, we also improve health in homes. Together with good thermal insulation, mechanical ventilation ensures that, in most situations, we achieve the desired comfort in the home and do not depend on traditional air conditioning means.