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Why Choose Spray Foam Insulation

Did you know that up to 40 percent of a home’s energy is lost due to air leaks and infiltration?? Gaps and air leaks allow expensive heating and air conditioning to go to waste, resulting in increased energy usage and higher utility bills.

The solution? Spray foam insulation! Here we take a closer look at spray foam insulation – what it is and the many benefits it can provide.

What is spray foam insulation?

Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a spray-applied plastic used to insulate homes and to seal cracks and gaps, making the home more comfortable and energy-efficient. It can also be an effective sound barrier, perfect for media and theatre rooms.

There are three main types of spray foam that can be used for insulation purposes:

• High-density: Ideal for exterior and roofing applications
• Medium-density: Ideal for continuous insulation, interior wall cavity fill, and unvented attics
• Low-density: Ideal for interior wall cavity fill and unvented attics

The spray foam insulation experts at Solar Bear Tampa will help you choose the appropriate product and delivery system for your new construction, renovation, or insulation project. Call us today at (407) 904-7123!

Benefits to Spray Foam Installations

Spray foam is very versatile and can seal wall cavities, exterior walls, crawlspaces, attics, and small gaps and cracks throughout the house. Because spray foam limits air infiltration and air movement throughout your home, energy usage is significantly reduced, intrusion of pollutants and allergens is prevented, and it will make your home more comfortable.

Other benefits to installing spray foam include:

Improves energy efficiency: Spray foam can help to significantly lower energy bills by reducing air leaks and improving your home’s energy efficiency. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, using spray foam to minimize air leaks can save homeowners up to 15 percent on heating and cooling costs.

Increases the structural integrity of your home. Spray foam can provide additional building strength which leads to reduced roof repairs and overall maintenance costs.

Makes your home more comfortable. Spray foam decreases drafts and helps maintain the same temperature throughout your entire home.

Improves indoor air quality (IAQ). Sealing your home with spray foam will do wonders for keeping out allergens and preventing moisture from entering your home.

Allows you to spend less on HVAC equipment. Spray foam is an effective insulator and air sealant, and therefore, will make a home a lot more energy-efficient. Homes with adequate insulation can efficiently run on smaller (and less expensive!) HVAC equipment.

Qualifies you for tax benefits and rebates. Spray foam installations qualify homeowners for certain tax credits and rebates. Savings is based on the type of spray foam that is installed in your home, i.e., higher insulation power equals more benefits.

Contact Solar Bear Tampa for a FREE quote on spray foam insulation at your home!

At Solar Bear Tampa, our energy experts are trained to provide the right solutions for your unique needs and will help determine the best spray foam option for your home. To learn more about our residential spray foam installation services, please contact our Tampa solar energy and spray foam insulation company at 813-567-8484!

Open Cell vs. Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation

Whether you are building a new home or doing some energy efficiency upgrades, the right insulation is critical to the comfort of your home. Inefficient insulation can increase your heating and cooling costs by as much as 40%! Spray foam insulation is effective at air sealing and provides thermal insulation solutions to adequately insulate your home. Don’t waste precious energy! Scroll down to learn the difference between open cell and closed cell spray foam insulation from the energy efficiency pros at Solar Bear.

Open Cell and Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation

Both open cell and closed cell spray foam are used to insulate buildings and effectively seal any cracks and gaps that allow for air loss, making buildings more comfortable and energy-efficient. While they both expand when sprayed, they have different strengths and weaknesses, and one type is not necessarily better than the other.

Let’s take a look at the differences between open and closed cell spray foam insulation.

The Cells

Spray foam insulation is described as being open or closed cell because of the differences in the small bubbles (cells) that make up the foams. They each have different physical structures that give them different thermal and acoustic performance characteristics.

Foam insulation is made up of two chemicals that when mixed, expand rapidly. During this expansion, bubbles are formed. In open cell spray foam, the bubbles partially rupture leaving behind only what is called “struts” or the point where two bubbles are touching each other. With closed cell insulation, the bubbles don’t rupture and create interconnected pockets, which in turn enhances its rigidity.

Open Cell Foam is made up of cells that have burst and are partially open. Open-cell spray foam is softer and more flexible and expands further than closed cell spray foam.

Closed Cell Foam is made up of cells that did not rupture and are completely closed, making closed cell foam much more rigid than open cell foam.

Density

Due to the nature of closed cells, closed cell foam is much denser than open cell foam. Open cell foam generally has a density of about .5 pounds per cubic foot while closed cell foam often has a density over three times that with a density of around 1.75 pounds per cubic foot.

Due to the lighter density and porous structure of open cell spray foam, it will perform much better for sound dampening and acoustic applications. The thicker softer material of open cell spray foam reduces sound waves much more efficiently than its denser counterpart.

R-Value

R-value refers to the spray foam’s heat resistance or how well they insulate. Closed cell spray foam has a higher R-value which makes it better at keeping the heat in or out of a structure. Generally closed cell spray foam has an R-value of 6.0-7.0 per square inch.

Open cell foams have an R-value of about 3.5 per inch, which can limit the usefulness of open cell insulation in places with extreme temperature conditions. But, an important thing to keep in mind is that due to its lighter density and bigger cell structure, open cell spray foam will expand 100 to 120 times its size while closed cell spray foam generally expands about 33 times its size.

So should you choose a spray foam with a higher R-value? Not necessarily. Heating and cooling losses in a home are due to not controlling or sealing air leakage properly. With Icynene spray foam, we create an air barrier to help control air leakage, and both types of foam can be beneficial to controlling air leakage and reducing energy costs.

For example, in a typical wall cavity or attic application closed cell foam installed at 2 inches would have an R-value of 14. The same insulation application done with open cell foam at 3.5 inches yields an R-value of 13. As you can see, the thermal performance of both spray foams is almost identical.

Cost

Due to the differences in the expansion rates of closed cell and open cell foam, there is a difference in cost. because of the density of closed-cell foam, it will take more material to cover the same amount of space, so it will ultimately cost more.

Benefits of Spray Foam

Closed cell foam is designed to expand to about one inch in thickness when sprayed. Multiple applications can be applied to achieve higher R-values. Open cell foam expands to about three inches of thickness, which means that one application is possible in most standard walls.

Closed Cell Spray Foam

Closed cell spray foam is the best choice for insulation when space is an issue, as it can achieve to times the R-value of open cell foam in a standard wall application. Its rigid nature also adds additional strength to the structural integrity of the building and also can act as a vapor barrier so water and moisture will be less likely to get inside the home. (The foam itself is unharmed by water or moisture.)

Open Cell Spray Foam

One of the best benefits of open cell spray foam is its rate of expansion after being applied. It can insulate hard-to-reach nooks and crannies in the home, which are hard to insulate with closed cell foam. It is also excellent for soundproofing and acoustic applications, and a single application can completely fill the area between studs.

Open cell foam is also more cost-effective and affordable than closed cell foam, but won’t insulate a home as well as a closed cell foam application, especially in areas of extreme temperature conditions.

Tampa Bay Spray Foam Insulation

While there are specific applications and projects that we would recommend one spray foam product over the other, it really comes down to what you are looking to accomplish for your specific project. Both closed cell and open cell spray foam insulation applications will seal your home, last for the lifetime of your structure, and help reduce your energy costs!

Ready to seal the air leakage in your Orlando home? Have questions? Save on energy costs and stay comfortable! Call Solar Bear today at 407-904-7585!

Switching to Solar: How Much Will I Save A Year?

When researching online, you will probably see varying claims about solar energy savings. They might seem sensible or maybe even far-fetched. It can be hard to figure out what is the truth. While switching to solar energy isn’t free as some companies may claim, it is an investment in the future. By harnessing the power of the sun, you can take back some of the money that you give to Big Energy each month. So the question is, how much will I save in a year with solar? Let’s take a look!

Solar Energy

Solar energy is a bit more complicated than some companies may lead you to believe, as our roofs, utilities, and energy needs are different depending on where we live, what our house looks like, etc. Solar energy is like a puzzle, there are a few questions that you need to answer to turn solar panels into savings.

These questions might include:

• How sunny is your roof?
• How much energy does your family use on average?
• How many solar panels will fit on your roof?
• Does your utility company offer net metering?
• Are you looking for long-term savings?

Investing in solar is for people who are “future planners.” They see the long-term vision of what having solar panels entails.

If you live in a sunny place ( Hello, Florida!) your solar panels will likely offset your electricity usage pretty evenly. If your utility company offers net metering, then you are in a good place to save short-term (possibly significantly) on your utility bills. The biggest financial gains are a little farther down the line, about 8-12 years down the road. By them, you will have paid off your solar investment, but your electricity will be mostly covered each month. Sounds amazing right?

Stay energy-efficient: 4 tips to Make the Most of Your Home’s Solar

Solar Savings

On average, a homeowner who has installed solar power can save between $600-800 or more a year. Over a 20 year span in Florida, you could be looking at savings of around $17,976. But of course, there are caveats to this estimation, as every roof and home is different.

Regardless of if you go solar or not, you will need to continue to pay your electricity payment every month, at least until you pay off your solar power system! Utility companies continue to raise their rates year after year which will make your costs increase as well. With solar, you can avoid these hikes in price and take control of your costs. Once your solar power system is paid off, you will be able to eliminate your electricity bill completely!

Here are a few factors to how much you can save with solar:

• Electricity rates: If your area has high electricity rates, your solar energy savings will be higher as you avoid utility energy usage.
• Local financial incentives: If your state or local government offers cash rebates, tax credits, or incentives you will be able to save more on your solar investment.
• Solar financing: Whether you purchase with cash, a solar loan such as PACE financing, or a solar lease, each has a different value proposition and long-term returns.

Harness the Power of the Sun: Install Solar Today!

Installing residential solar panels can be a big undertaking and one that shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. This is a big investment, but one with a huge turn on investment! Install the optimal system for your home with Solar Bear, and start reaping the benefits of solar power!

Increase your property value, lower your utility costs, and enjoy freedom from Big Energy! Investing in solar energy is a smart move to save money while shrinking your carbon footprint! Go solar with Solar Bear and contact us for a free estimate today!

Florida Incentives for Home Solar

They don’t call us the Sunshine State for nothing! On average, Florida enjoys 237 sunny days per year – making it a perfect place to create and store renewable energy by going solar. Not only will you contribute to environmental efforts by reducing your carbon footprint, you will also enjoy several attractive solar incentives that will put some extra money in your pocket.

The solar energy experts at Solar Bear Tampa list the many incentives Florida homeowners can receive by switching to home solar.

Fun Facts about Florida Solar

Before we get into incentives, here are some fun facts about going solar in Florida…

• Florida is ranked the third best state in the United States for solar!
• Florida solar panel prices have dropped an astonishing 45% in the last five years!
• Florida is the third-highest producer of carbon dioxide emissions in the nation!

Florida Tax Rebates and Incentives

Florida energy leaders understand the benefits of using home solar energy which is why so many rebates and incentives are available, some of which include:

Florida Net Metering

Florida Net Metering is one of the most important regulatory policies for residential solar owners in the state of Florida. It works by monitoring the amount of electricity that your home uses by being on the grid. (Even though you go solar, you will continue to “stay on the grid” as a backup power supply). Since are you creating solar energy, any unused energy supplied by your electric company will be sent back to the grid and you will receive a credit.

Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

The federal solar tax credit – Investment Tax Credit (ITC) – gives homeowners a dollar-for-dollar reduction against their federal income taxes and is available for home solar systems that will have been installed by December 31, 2022. With ITC, you can reduce the cost of your solar energy system by a whopping 26 percent! It is important to note that this credit applies only to homeowners who purchase their solar system outright or pay with a solar loan.

Property Tax Exemption

Typically, when you add value to your home (i.e., home additions, renovations, etc.) your property tax bills go up. This is not the case with solar! Thanks to Florida’s Property Tax Exclusion for Residential Renewable Energy Property, your solar system will not be subject to any additional taxes.

Sales Tax Exemption

Thanks to the Solar and CHP Sales Tax Exemption, you will not have to pay sales tax when you purchase your new solar energy system. That is a savings of 6% of what you would have normally spent on state taxes!

Go solar with Solar Bear in Tampa, FL!

Teaming up with a Tampa solar company like Solar Bear is a great way to help our planet while also enjoying the many available financial incentives. Curious to see if our solar solutions are a good fit for your energy needs? Contact our experienced team of solar experts today at 727-471-7442 for a FREE quote!