Insulation reduces heat loss or surplus in cold weather and climate and lowers energy consumption for heating and cooling. This saves fossil fuels and related greenhouse gas emissions.
Bulk insulation materials resist conductive and convective thermal transfer through air spaces between fibers or foam or plastic bubbles or in building cavities like attics.
Energy Efficiency
Insulation slows the exchange of heat, which helps decrease the energy demands of heating and cooling systems. It can also help reduce air pollution caused by the combustion of fossil fuels.
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects of green building design. It refers to how much energy a building consumes and how much carbon dioxide is produced by its operations. Insulation is a major contributor to energy efficiency in green buildings, especially in cold climates. In fact, new buildings that meet green standards can use as little as 10% of the energy required for traditional ones.
This is because insulation reduces the amount of hot and cool air that escapes through the walls, ducts and roof. This prevents warm air from escaping during the winter and cool air from escaping during the summer, which in turn lowers energy consumption and emissions.
Green building insulation can be made from a variety of materials, including polystyrene foam, cellulose and vermiculite. Many of these materials are made from recycled content, reducing their environmental impact. For example, cellulose insulation has an average of 85 percent recycled content, making it a great choice for green construction. Additionally, cellulose is treated with a non-toxic borate product that also makes it bug and rodent resistant.
The type of insulation required for a particular building depends on the local climate, energy costs and environmental concerns. However, green insulation is a cost-effective way to reduce fossil fuel usage and emissions and improve building energy efficiency.
Indoor Air Quality
While most people understand that outdoor air pollution can impact their health, many do not realize that indoor air quality (IAQ) is also an important issue. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists IAQ as one of the top five environmental risks to human health. Most people spend 62% of their time at home, 16% at work and 5%-7% commuting, so they are exposed to pollutants for much longer periods of time than they are outside.
The quality of the air inside buildings and structures has a major influence on the health, comfort and performance of building occupants. Poor IAQ has been linked to a number of problems, such as sick building syndrome, decreased productivity and reduced learning in schools.
Biological and chemical contaminants, such as smoke, fumes and mold, along with particulate matter, affect the quality of indoor air. These contaminants can be introduced from outside or released by activities such as smoking, cleaning and redecorating.
The quality of the air inside buildings and structures can be improved by source control, filtration and ventilation. Insulation is a key component of all of these measures, and it can help reduce the amount of air leakage into and out of a structure, which is an important factor in regulating indoor air quality.
Environmental Impact
In green building design, the goal is to minimize negative impacts on the environment. Insulation can help achieve this goal in many ways, including reducing the amount of energy used to heat and cool buildings, reducing carbon and harmful emissions, and minimizing waste.
Historically, human beings have sought out natural materials like animal skins, straw, and reed to use as insulation for their dwellings and huts against harsh weather and wild animals. This practice continues today with the use of recycled cotton denim, natural cellulose (like hemp or straw), and natural mineral fibers to create sustainable insulation for buildings. Some types of insulation are even able to be manufactured from plants that are rapidly renewable.
Green insulation is also made of materials that have lower embodied energy than traditional polystyrene and fiberglass insulation. This is because those traditional insulators use up a lot of resources during manufacturing and are toxic to the environment in addition to being non-reusable and non-recyclable. Insulation materials with a lower embodied energy can also reduce the amount of chemicals, such as VOCs or volatile organic compounds, that are released into the air during the course of the building’s life.
Another way that green insulation can help reduce environmental impact is by preventing the movement of heat from cooler areas into warmer ones. This is important because heat flows naturally from warmer to cooler spaces and causes a need for heating or cooling. However, a home or business owner can limit the amount of heat flow with bulk insulation that resists conductive and convective transfer.
Comfort
Comfort is a key aspect of green building and relates to the design of energy efficient buildings. Insulation helps reduce the demand on heating and cooling systems to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. By slowing the flow of heat in and out of a structure, it can help save energy by keeping warm air inside during winter and cool air inside during summer.
Insulation also contributes to the energy efficiency of a building by preventing air leakage. A well-designed insulation system can also prevent thermal bridging by filling in the spaces between wood framing. This reduces the amount of energy that is lost through the walls and can significantly increase a building’s overall insulating value.
Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a new type of rigid insulation that can be sprayed to the wall and can create an effective barrier against air movement. It can also be applied around pipes, outlets and windows. Spray foam can be cut and shaped to meet any custom design, unlike traditional insulation products that must be spliced together to achieve the desired thickness.
In addition, spray foam insulation has been shown to resist moisture damage better than other products. This means that it will remain effective over the life of the building. This contributes to a longer lifespan and reduced maintenance costs for the building owner.