It is easy to see why homes up north where deep snow and cold winters exist would need insulation to keep warm. It is not as easy to understand why a home here in always sunny Miami, Florida might need insulation. In the following article, we will go over why it is essential to have adequate home insulation regardless of the climate that you live in, how having the proper types of insulation for your area can benefit you, and how having sufficient insulation can help to protect our planet.
What is Insulation?
Insulation is a product that is made up of various materials and comes in multiple forms that are used to prevent the transference of heat. Most insulation is applied to homes in sheet, spray, or blown style when a contractor builds a home. Each climate zone typically calls for a different R-value which is the number assigned to each type of material that indicates how good or protective it is regarding heat transference.
Why Do I Need Insulation in a Warm Climate?
Though Miami is warmer than most places you typically think of when you hear the word insulation, all homes need some level of insulation. There are many reasons even homes in areas that are warmer require insulation as a heat barrier, including:
- Insulation can help keep homes warm when it is cold outside.
- When the weather is hot, insulation can help keep your house cooler.
- Having proper insulation will save you money on your energy bills regardless of your climate.
- Installing the correct amount of insulation conserves energy which helps the environment and assists with slowing down climate change.
How Does Having Adequate Insulation Help Save the Planet?
There are a few different ways that having a more energy efficient home can help our planet in addition to our immediate 
everyday situations.
- By ensuring that your home has the proper amount of insulation for your temperature zone, you will conserve energy.
- When you use less energy, you reduce your carbon footprint.
- More efficient use of resources reduces greenhouse gasses which damage our environment and cause the rapid temperature changes that contribute to climate warming.
- Taking these measures to reduce energy use and help create more sustainable resource usage can reduce the costs associated with heating or cooling our homes.
Types of Insulation
There are many different types of insulation available, and each class has a specific use and place. Before purchasing any insulation products, you should consult a contractor to see what your home and climate zone require. A few different insulation varieties include
- Rolled or sheet insulation
- This insulation type is typically a pink or yellow fiberglass or foam material
- Bulk insulation
- Generally, you find this variety of insulation in colder climates where homeowners need to trap heat inside the home for extended periods.
- Blown insulation
- This method of insulating a home uses various materials. You often find blown insulation in the attic or filling internal walls.
- Radiant Barriers
- This is an insulating method that is great for warmer areas with a lot of solar energy. Radiant barriers create a reflective layer that protects your home from the hot and penetrating rays of the sun.
Here are some of the areas that you may find these insulation varieties in your house.
- Attic or ceiling
- These areas are often protected most because the roof of your home is one of the most significant places for energy leaks, and many contractors focus on making the attic and roof area more energy efficient.
- Walls
- Typically, contractors build homes with insulation in the exterior walls. Additionally, some contractors can help you with the sustainability of your home’s energy by assessing your energy consumption and determining if you could benefit from having insulation added to your internal walls as well.
- Floors
- There is generally insulation in crawl spaces and under some types of flooring such as carpet.
- Pipes
- Particularly in colder climates, some homes have insulation installed around their pipes to keep them from freezing.
A Best Insulation and Your home
Here at A Best Insulation, we take pride in not only accurately assessing each home that we work on but also in providing each customer with physical proof that their upgrades have helped with energy consumption in their house. If you live in the Miami area, contact us to have your home evaluated and start saving on your cooling bills today!
