4 Alternative Forms of Insulation for Any Home

Adding insulation to your home is one of the easiest ways to increase its energy efficiency in both the winter and summer months.  How does it work?  In a nutshell, heat always tries to move to a cooler place.  This means that during the winter the heat from you home will try to move to the colder, unheated areas of the home and outside.  During the summer time, that hot outside air will be trying to get inside.

Typically insulation is added to exterior walls and attic spaces, and it often consists of fiberglass, cellulose, or wool.

However, in certain situations you can’t always add traditional insulation to your home.  Perhaps you are renting the house, or perhaps you live in an apartment building.  Or, you just want to look at some additional options to help your home be even better insulated.  Let’s take a look at some alternative forms of insulation that will help you to save energy.

Four Alternative Forms of Insulation for Any Home

1. Thick rugs

I think we can all attest that it is much better to step out of bed onto a thick fuzzy rug in the morning rather than a cold wood floor, right?  If your home’s floors are wood or tile, adding a few rugs can help the room feel much warmer.

2. Bookcases

If you are looking for a place in your home for a bookcase, consider an exterior wall.  A bookcase will create one more barrier between your living space and the outside air.

3. Heavy drapes

Windows are big energy losers.  In addition to sealing your windows and even adding a draft blocking snake at the bottom, you can also use drapery to add some insulation to your home.  Closing drapes up tight will lessen the amount of heat transfer that occurs.

That said, during the cold winter months, don’t forget to take advantage of sunny days and leave the drapes open during the day time in order to bring some warmth in.

During the summer, you will want to use drapes the opposite away:  when the sun is heating a room to an uncomfortable level, close your curtains to cool things down.

4. Tapestries or other wall hangings

Tapestries hanging on the walls can often bring to mind images of medieval castles or museums, but you can still use this insulation trick without needing to change your decor style.  Consider hanging fun printed quilts along your walls to add an extra layer of insulation.

Have you tried any of these alternative forms of insulation?  Let us know in the comments!  Looking to learn more about saving energy?  Contact us at FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, and Electrical.