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Have you ever considered going green? Many companies have opted to go green for the incentives from the federal government. These incentives all boil down to one simple bonus: money. The government doesn’t only offer money to businesses for going green, however. There are several programs in place to reimburse you for money spent on weatherizing your home. The federal government isn’t the only body of power to offer money back either. State and local governments also offer incentives for going green in your own home.

Spray foam insulation is installed in a process that does not harm the environment. When applied, spray foam expands rapidly and creates a powerful seal that is unmatched by conventional insulation methods. With such a strong seal, cool air is kept inside longer, meaning that your air conditioner will run less often. Most homes stand to increase efficiency in this fashion by 30%-40%. Such a large increase in efficiency can slash your energy bills, sometimes by half or more.

An energy audit by Star Spray Foam Systems will tell you what areas of your home are losing the most air and how to improve those areas. How much you stand to increase efficiency, and even an estimate of how much you may be able to save each month on your energy bill, are also included in the summary. These numbers are accurate depictions made by professionals in the field of building science. In Louisiana, with this audit, and installation of the spray foam, most homes qualify for a local bonus of $2,000 through the HERO program, in addition to the state and federal programs. Star Spray Foam Systems will even handle all of the paperwork for your rebates.

According to the Department of Energy, the average savings per year from weatherizing your home are almost $1,000. With $1,000 saved per year, $2,000 more from HERO, and a few variable amounts back from the federal government, your bank account will start to look a little greener as well. So if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, or just save a lot of money every month, spray foam insulation is the best first step.

Considering the hubbub that has been going around on greenhouse gases and unemployment, it is easy to see why being energy efficient is all the rage these days. At first, when we think about it, it is hard to see just where we can cut back. It is seemingly impossible to live without electricity since nearly everything we do happens to involve electricity in some way. But with a few simple tricks, it is quite easy to do nowadays.

In the beginning, it is hard to imagine living without any of our home electrical appliances. But there is actually a replacement for most of them out there in the market. They will all do pretty much the same thing and utilize less energy in the process. Some examples of this would be using CFL lamps instead of the typical light bulbs; LEDs are great too, in some cases. It is estimated that changing all the lights in a home with these can reduce energy consumption by 50% to 75%. Looking for a considerably more power efficient refrigerator is a great idea as well, since it is by far the biggest energy consumer of our homes.

The biggest energy saving method, however, is having proper insulation. Applying a good layer of spray foam on leaky areas, such as the attic, can start saving us money right away and the nice thing about this is that spray foam is so easy. Most people can even use the do-it-yourself version of spray foams. Having good insulation can easily lower the bills by 20% every month on its own. Consider the money that is saved over a year and it is easy to understand why you should try it. Another great thing about insulation is that we do not need to spend that much money on it, because it would keep working for us for decades to come. We also don’t have to buy new appliances.

Most of us wonder about saving money on our electric bills. With these tips, you can surely cut back on your spending. Saving energy is still important since it is not just about money anymore. By saving energy, we end up saving the planet.

Home insulation is sought by home owners today as a number#1 home renovation project. It is the best way to reduce the money spent on home maintenance monthly. Spray foam has a successful track record and many seek to install it for lifelong benefits.

Spray foam is not only known as an insulation that stops the flow of electricity. Spray foam is popular for many other benefits it affords along with energy saving. For starters spray foam makes the house extremely sturdy to face any sort of climatic challenges. Its coating also makes your home water proof, pest free, dust free and fire resistant. Your home is set free of any molds and mildew that could creep in. Also getting spray foam installed in your house fetches you a good amount when you plan to resell your house.

All the above mentioned reasons seem to be quite tempting to get spray foam installed at your place. But have you considered which form of spray foam is ideal for your house. Let’s see the type of spray foams you can choose.

There are basically two types of spray foams available in the market – Open Cell Foam Insulation and Closed Cell Foam Insulation. The difference between the two is their physical make up and the R-value they provide. These factors make a very significant difference to the product performance, application processes and consumer cost.
Open Cell Foam is .05 lb. /cu. ft. It consists of small cells that are not completely closed. The cells are open with air fills in them. As they are loosely bound to each other due to the air pockets the structure is weak. Also they are less water resistant when compared to closed cell foam.

On the other hand closed spray foam insulation is also made of small cells like open spray foam but they are closely bound to each other with no air gaps to make the bond loose. The cells are not filled in with air but with gas that makes the foam rise and expand. This means that the foam is dense, completely water proof and sturdy too.

In order to measure the density of the spray foam you will have to weigh one cured cubic foot of foam material. The open cell foam weighs around 0.4 to 0.5 lb. /cu. ft. whereas closed cell foam has a density of 1.7 lb. /cu. ft. to 2.0 lb. /cu. ft. If you are planning for the insulation of your roof then you need to select a spray foam that gives better support and is sturdy itself. A spray foam with good density promises stronger support.

If we compare the R-value of both the types, open cell spray foam has an R-value of 3.5 per inch and closed-cell spray foams insulation on an average has an R-value of around 7.0 per inch. Open spray foam requires water as a blowing agent on the other hand close cell spray foam needs high R-value blowing agents.

Closed cell spray foam emerges as a popular choice as it is more efficient due to its denser make. It provides higher structural integrity that supports the foundation and allows complete sealing. Also its R-value is higher and gives a strong evidence of insulation ability. They are more efficient at reducing air leaks and prevent water/ moisture infiltration. So they form a better insulation option.

EcoStarFoam.com is a leading service provider for spray foam insulation. Our team of professionals use durable spray foam of various well known brands to cover every cavity in your house and make your home energy efficient. Our service is well known in New Orleans, Louisiana and surrounding area. (504) 383 – 3261

What were once unsafe and decrepit housing projects in New Orleans has been transformed into brand new dwellings, many of which benefit from energy-saving features such as spray foam insulation.

One of the city’s under developed neighborhoods, the Magnolia projects is renamed Harmony Oaks Apartments, a complex partially subsidized by the government to address the housing needs of lower-income families. Harmony Oaks Apartments comprises of 460-units replacing one of the public housing compounds swept by Katrina.

Apartment owners claim that along with changes in infrastructure came a peaceful and safer environment. Shootings and drug dealing once plagued the old projects.

Another means for residents to save on expenses is by employing foaming insulation treatments that cut down energy costs. An alternative to conventional insulation, spray foam insulation is sprayed on concrete interiors, wall cavities, and roof tiles, filling air gaps and protecting the building from moisture.

The old model of gated housing projects is now replaced by a mix of market-valued and government-subsidized houses. 900 units have opened to homeowners in New Orleans, setting in place a development plan of 3,100 more houses.

New Orleans housing is unique in its complete overhaul of all public housing projects instead opting for gradual restoration. Locals agree that this wave of development provide a more livable habitation and attract less crime which was a major problem in decades-old housing projects. Some advocates however warn that a number of poor families still would not be able to afford brand new units.

Only 5,000 families occupied the city’s 12,000 public dwellings after Katrina, according to government statistics. These public housing units were then demolished after city officials coordinated with private developers to rebuild new houses.

A lot of the public housing in New Orleans were constructed at the end of the Great Depression to create new jobs. Through decades the houses were poorly maintained. A spike in crime rate paired with neglect drove homeowners to move out. Katrina further emptied the government housing projects.

Now reports of crime have steadily dropped since the construction of new units. In a compound renamed Columbia Parc, communities have gradually formed as film viewings and social events in clubhouses once again lit up the neighborhood.

Public housing projects make up about a third of the new developments. Housing officials say that many families who have been displaced will have to wait a while to get units. Harmony Oaks holds a 4,000-person waiting list.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, those unable to dwell in complexes can apply for a federal voucher and live in market-priced units. Another waiting list of 22,000 families however might keep them out.

A non-profit agency called Neighborhood Housing Services have observed a rise in jobs and new businesses after new housing welcomed residents of low-income families to better environs and improved neighborhoods.

The new units can further improve and prove more livable by investing in energy-saving and cost-effective means of insulation. Spray foam insulation not only control the temperature and moisture of the building but also reduces airborne noise transferred through the floor, walls and roof. New Orleans would have better quality homes that are not only properly insulated but also more peaceful to dwell in.

Homeowners interested in spray foam insulation should visit www.ecostarfoam.com

Work places need to build an atmosphere that is conducive to working. Hence offices take resort to installing high end appliances, invest in furniture with proper ergonomics and set an ambience that is relaxing. Another important aspect that offices have now begun to pay attention to is the environment of the office. No doubt the internal atmosphere is controlled with help of various appliances as no one would work in a place that is too hot or too cold. But work places seem to be running the appliances over time, paying huge energy bills per month and still landing up with uncomfortable temperature within.

The temperature of the room is the first thing that will make the employees comfortable to work for long hours as compared to the high end appliances and furniture. But running heater/ air-conditioners longer than required is not a solution to it. The energy bill posted to an office at the end of the month is definitely more than what any household could get given the appliances like light, computers and other devices running for long hours. This takes up for most of the profit made. To save the hard earned money you make you need to take corrective measure to stop the additional running of the cooling and heating appliances.

Spray foam insulation is an effective way of doing so. Maximum of the structures have cracks and openings in them that together make for a window open 24Í7. This leads to constant leakage of the air within and infiltration of air from outside. Spray foam insulation stops this leakage of energy and provides better atmosphere, lesser energy bills along with reduced consumption of energy.

Spray foam is made of polyurethane material which is completely environmental friendly. When sprayed the material is in liquid form and reaches the most recessed corners of the wall. On exposure to oxygen it expands to a size 100 times more than the original volume, thus sealing the gaps in the wall completely.

Spray foam insulation may seem a little expensive when you compare it with the other insulation materials in the market. However, on close inspection you will know that the money you spend is worth it. Spray foam tends to pay off well over the time in terms of utility savings as it provides maximum insulation. Also it has to its credit many benefits apart from bill saving.

The use of trained professional for the installation of insulation increase the cost you incur for spray foam. But spray foam is a difficult material to deal with, thus it requires professional assistance. Improper application of the material can lead to structural damage. EcoStarFoam.com is a leading service provider for spray foam insulation installation. Our team of professionals use durable spray foam of various well known brands that cover every cavity in your house and make your home energy efficient. We are well known for our top quality services in New Orleans, Louisiana and surrounding area.