Insulation is Insane Ally in Efficiency

By Susan Shalhoub

Insulation – whether it be in a house, industrial structure or commercial building – is not an element of its makeup to which one gives much thought. It’s something installed when the building is constructed and then it’s a done deal. We live in those houses, we do business in those buildings, and we move on with our lives, right?

            Wrong.

            It’s important to replace insulation regularly. Its deterioration costs you, the owner, over the long run, in terms of your health and comfort, energy bills, and the health of our planet overall.

            With decaying insulation comes unhealthy air that we are then breathing, says Sam Tenpenny, owner of Koala Insulation Tampa. “Rodents may have defecated in there,” he said. “This results in poor air quality. We recommend inspection of your insulation every five to 10 years, especially if you know there is a pest issue.”

            Sam, who has owned his Koala Insulation franchise for a year-and-a-half, comes from a family of franchisees and has good customer service in his blood. His installers all have 10 to 15 years of experience, arrive on time and leave worksites clean and tidy. Koala Insulation provides homeowners and business clients with blown-in insulation, batt (blanket) insulation, spray foam insulation, attic fans and removal of old materials as well.

            Investing in efficiency

            In terms of energy savings, with up to 70% of your home’s energy costs going toward cooling it down here in Florida, quality insulation saves you money by helping that cool air stay put. It just doesn’t make sense to spend money on an expensive central-air system with things like leaky sealants around windows and old insulation working against you, said Shane Vogel, owner of the new St. Petersburg Koala Insulation. There is a bigger picture at play.

            “Insulation is a really important part of the building process,” said Shane, who has a construction background. “People think sometimes that a new air conditioning system, for example, will fix all their problems. But you need proper insulation. Ductwork, soffits, windows …
moisture can make its way in to all these areas. Building science is quite complicated.” (And better left to the experts.)

            Sam and Shane work hard to help homeowners see how insulation benefits their ultimate bottom line and overall quality of living. Sam makes it a point to educate customers on how the quality materials installed by Koala Insulation condition attic space between the roofline and living space.

As for Shane’s reason for getting involved with Koala Insulation, it all comes back to his own negative experiences with home contractors. He is proud of the fact that the company does not take payments up front.

“Clients know we won’t just take their money and run,” he said. “We stay in constant contact with the customer. It’s part of why I got into this company. Before, as a homeowner, I would agree to a quote and never hear from them. I knew when I got involved with Koala Insulation, we’d be responsive, that customers would know what we are doing and be well informed.”

            Koala Insulation customers can feel confident in the level of service they receive, fair pricing in installation and materials and savings in their utility bills over time.