A large percentage of heat escapes through the attic and the walls of a home. However, a new approach to insulation can make a big difference.

In order to build a better thermal envelope, we need to look at the second law of thermodynamics. This law states that heat flows in one direction, from a warm space to a cold one. For example, warm air inside a home will flow to the cooler air outside during winter months.

Fiberglass batt insulation helps prevent this from happening, but there's a better method for preventing heat loss—one that is easy to install and is within your budget.

The best practice for insulating is to use spray foam insulation to fill the spaces between the framing studs in the wall. And with the advent of injectable foam insulation for retrofit applications (even if you already have batt insulation in the walls) makes foam the most ecologically sound and sustainable insulation you can upgrade to that will pay for itself in as little as 1.9 years!

The most common insulation method is to use fiberglass insulation batts, which are placed between the studs and stapled into place. The drywall is then nailed over it, creating a straight wall. Although this is an acceptable method by outdated codes, it does not create an airtight seal, so heat can escape. The amount of heat that escapes from the average home every day could fill up a blimp. That's a lot of air and a lot of wasted energy and money!

By using the better practice of spray foam insulation in walls and cellulose or foam in the attics, you can create a better air-tight envelope. This gives an advantage over common batt insulation in both efficiency and cost.