Home insulation : what are my options?

It's not something we tend to think about much. It just sits up there above our heads, keeping us cool in summer and warm in winter, helping to keep our energy bills down and doing its bit to help preserve the environment.

We're talking about insulation. It's not the most glamorous of subjects, but when it comes to our living spaces it's a vital one.

"You put the right home insulation in and do it properly and it will save you money in the long term," says Jeff, an insulation expert. "With only a relatively small outlay, it will end up paying for itself quite quickly. It makes both economic and environmental sense."

There are many forms of insulation available for the domestic market and the advantage of going to an expert like Jeff - who doesn't represent any one particular manufacturer or brand for home insulation - is that he will give you unbiased advice on which type will best suit your circumstances.

"There are general rules of course, but each person or situation is different", he says. "It's a matter of working out the applications for the insulation, as well as people's budgets and whether they'll be installing them themselves or getting professionals to do it."

Jeff suggests there are three main forms of insulation best suited to residential houses. There is the glasswool batt (made from spun glass), the polyester batt (made from the same sort of material that is in most doonas and pillows) and the polyester-sheepswool batt. Each batt has its own attributes (both in terms of installation and function) and price. There are also foil-based and paper-based forms of insulation available, but neither of these is used much in residential applications.

Each form of batt is available in different thicknesses, which affects its thermal resistance rating. In other words, thicker batts have a higher thermal resistance rating than thinner ones. And building codes demand certain ratings, in keeping with society's awareness of energy conservation and protecting the environment.

Chat to someone like Jeff and work out which form of home insulation will suit you best. Once you're sorted with your choice, you can relax in the knowledge that you've ensured a comfortable living space for you and your family, while saving money and helping to look after the planet at the same time.

Shop for home insulation to keep your house warm during the winter months.