GreenTips

Insulation is often one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing the energy demand of a building. The most important consideration when selecting an insulation material should always be to select the product that gives the highest level of thermal insulation. The environmental benefits due to energy saving will almost always outweigh the environmental impact of manufacturing the insulating material. It is often quoted that fibre glass insulation will save more energy in its first year of use than was required to create it.

An excellent, impartial source of information on the various types of insulation available and their uses can be found at the US Department of Energy website.

Grants and low interest loans may be available for your insulation project. More information can be found at the EECA website.

Standards New Zealand recently released SNZ PAS 4244:2003 Insulation of Lightweight Framed and Solid-Timber Houses which defines 3 different standards of domestic insulation Good, Better and Best. Always consider designing new buildings to meet the Better or Best standards.

A general source of background information can be found at the EECA Energy Wise website. EECA have also compiled an excellent guide to the installation of insulation in domestic construction projects. .

A number of insulation materials are manufactured with recycled materials. Cellulose insulation is manufactured from recycled paper. Some wool insulations not only use local NZ wool but also use recycled scraps. Fibreglass insulation can be specified with a recycled content as high as 70%.

In recent years there has been some concern over health risks related to the use of glass fibre and mineral fibre insulation products. Their seems to be a growing consensus that modern fibreglass and mineral fibre insulation products are safe, however consideration should still be given to safe installation processes and to using alternative insulation types, in any location, which may result in dust getting into the air supply of a building or in locations which are not sealed from the interior.

Insulation materials with CFCs and HCFCs should always be avoided. HCFCs like the CFCs they replaced are ozone depleting chemicals. Despite the fact that alternative production methods using non ozone depleting chemicals have been available for many years, expanded polystyrene insulation is often still manufactured with HCFCs.

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