Carpet, Like Insulation, Increases R Value of Carpeted Areas

If Home Insulation is Sexy, Carpet Should be “R Rated”

Carpet Increases R-Value of Carpeted Areas

The word is out: according to our president, home insulation is “sexy”. In a speech he gave December 15 at a Home Depot in Alexandria, Virginia, President Obama talked about how many jobs would be created if Americans retrofitted their homes with more energy-efficient building materials, like additional insulation and energy-efficient windows and doors. It was part of his so-called “cash-for-caulkers” plan to offer incentives to citizens who tighten their energy leaks at home.

"The simple act of retrofitting these buildings to make them more energy-efficient -- installing new windows and doors, insulation, roofing, sealing leaks, modernizing heating and cooling equipment -- is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest things we can do to put Americans back to work while saving families money and reducing harmful emissions," said Obama.

While he didn’t mention it by name, I contend that carpet belongs on the list of energy-saving products. Carpet has long been recognized for decreasing the energy loss from a room and making the room feel warmer to the people inside. Here is an excerpt from an article that appeared in Educational Facility Planner, the professional journal of CEFPI, the Council of Educational Facility Planners International. The article was written by CRI vice-president Frank Hurd, and is discussed in an earlier blog post titled "Carpet Aids Learning in Schools" in CEFPI Journal.

Thermal Comfort

Research conducted over the past two years at the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as independent scientific studies, demonstrates that carpet increases the R-value, or insulation level, of the carpeted area. The R-value (thermal resistance) measures how much a material resists the movement of heat through a ceiling, wall, or floor in a building. The higher the number, the more effective the insulation.

This research confirms carpet and pad significantly increase R-value compared to other flooring materials. Results varied according to the carpet’s construction, with heavier products generally providing higher R-value. Carpets were tested with and without cushion, and the combination maximized the R-value.

The enhanced R-value realized with the use of carpet can actually contribute to energy savings and lower utility costs.

Moreover, Dr. Alan Hedge, professor of Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University, cites another aspect of thermal comfort as one of carpet’s advantages. “Carpet feels warmer to the touch than other floor coverings because the air at room temperature is trapped by the carpet fibers which acts as an insulator, and carpet has a low thermal diffusivity compared to other floor materials that have higher thermal diffusivities and that conduct heat away from the body more rapidly, resulting in a lower skin temperature, cooler sensation, and greater thermal discomfort.”

So, if the President’s pulse races (and whose doesn’t?) at the idea of creating jobs through improved home energy efficiency, how might he feel about the proposed HIRE Act legislation that would provide tax incentives for individuals and some businesses to make other home improvements, like new carpet and other flooring, and appliances? (For more on the HIRE Act, see these earlier CRI blog posts Proposed HIRE Act Would Mean More Jobs in Home Furnishings and CRI President Featured On Japanese National Television.)

~Bethany


Pictured: Samsara courtesy of Masland Carpets and Rugs