Riverside, California (NAPSI) - Energy prices inCalifornia are among the highest in the nation. Fortunately, homeowners in theGoldenState and across the country can beat the heat at home and in their wallets with spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation.

“SPF can make your home more comfortable by reducing air leaks and energy consumption, which is good for the environment and good for California,” says Brian West, Director of Marketing at Henry Company, based in El Segundo, California.

According to the California Energy Commission, heating and cooling accounts for 45 percent of the average energy bill for California households. SPF insulation helps keep outside air from entering the home and prevents loss of conditioned indoor air by sealing cracks, seams and joints. Energy savings from SPF can be significant.

An estimated 10 percent of California’s newly constructed single-family homes in 2013 were insulated with SPF. These SPF-insulated homes help reduce CO2 emissions and are expected to remove greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those emitted by 2,700 cars. The annual estimated electricity savings add up to $3.3 million. SPF will also play a key role in California’s goal of zero net energy consumption for all new homes beginning in 2020.

SPF insulation can provide additional benefits:

• SPF can help reduce mold and mildew growth;

• SPF seals cracks and helps keep pollen and dust outside, reducing allergens;

• As a roofing material on low-sloped or flat surfaces, SPF creates a seamless air and weather barrier, which is critical beneath roof-mounted solar panels; and

• Cool-roof coatings can also be easily applied over SPF roofs.

Installing SPF to insulate and air-seal attics, crawl spaces and basements is not a do-it-yourself project. Consumers should work with a professional SPF installer. To learn more about SPF benefits, visit www.whysprayfoam.org.