Insulation Research

Why is insulation important?

http://www.sealinsulation.co.uk/benefits.html

Insulating the house was my first priority as lack of insulation in this state house  can become a health risk. The main benefits to bear in mind are as follows;

Sensible investment of your money and you will reduce your heating costs
Around 50% of the heat that you put into your home is wasted through the wall area. Cavity wall insulation are the most effective energy efficiency measures you can install. You will need your central heating on less as your home will retain more heat and for longer – it will warm up faster and cool down more slowly.

Your home will be warmer and more comfortable.
By installing cavity wall insulation, the home will not only be warmer during the winter period but it will be cooler in the summer.

You will have a more energy efficient home
By installing cavity wall insulation, the home will be more energy efficient, and with the introduction of home information packs (hips), the increased energy efficiency of the home will be attractive to buyers.

You will be helping to protect the environment
These carbon emissions are generated amongst other things by the fossil fuels that we burn to heat, light and power our homes. Reducing the fuel you use by installing cavity wall insulation will help reduce these carbon emissions and reduce your carbon footprint.

Types of Insulation

http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/types-insulation

Type	Insulation Materials	Where Applicable	Installation Method(s)	Advantages
Blanket: batts and rolls	•Fiberglass •Mineral (rock or slag) wool •Plastic fibers •Natural fibers	•Unfinished walls, including foundation walls •Floors and ceilings	Fitted between studs, joists, and beams.	Do-it-yourself. Suited for standard stud and joist spacing that is relatively free from obstructions. Relatively inexpensive.
Concrete block insulation and insulating concrete blocks	Foam board, to be placed on outside of wall (usually new construction) or inside of wall (existing homes): Some manufacturers incorporate foam beads or air into the concrete mix to increase R-values	•Unfinished walls, including foundation walls, for new construction or major renovations •Walls (insulating concrete blocks)	Require specialized skills Insulating concrete blocks are sometimes stacked without mortar (dry-stacked) and surface bonded.	Insulating cores increases wall R-value. Insulating outside of concrete block wall places mass inside conditioned space, which can moderate indoor temperatures. Autoclaved aerated concrete and autoclaved cellular concrete masonry units have 10 times the insulating value of conventional concrete.
Foam board or rigid foam	•Polystyrene •Polyisocyanurate •Polyurethane	•Unfinished walls, including foundation walls •Floors and ceilings •Unvented low-slope roofs	Interior applications: must be covered with 1/2-inch gypsum board or other building-code approved material for fire safety. Exterior applications: must be covered with weatherproof facing.	High insulating value for relatively little thickness. Can block thermal short circuits when installed continuously over frames or joists.
Insulating concrete forms (ICFs)	•Foam boards or foam blocks	•Unfinished walls, including foundation walls for new construction	Installed as part of the building structure.	Insulation is literally built into the home's walls, creating high thermal resistance.
Loose-fill and blown-in	•Cellulose •Fiberglass •Mineral (rock or slag) wool	•Enclosed existing wall or open new wall cavities •Unfinished attic floors •Other hard-to-reach places	Blown into place using special equipment, sometimes poured in.	Good for adding insulation to existing finished areas, irregularly shaped areas, and around obstructions.
Reflective system	•Foil-faced kraft paper, plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, or cardboard	•Unfinished walls, ceilings, and floors	Foils, films, or papers fitted between wood-frame studs, joists, rafters, and beams.	Do-it-yourself. Suitable for framing at standard spacing. Bubble-form suitable if framing is irregular or if obstructions are present. Most effective at preventing downward heat flow, effectiveness depends on spacing.
Rigid fibrous or fiber insulation	•Fiberglass •Mineral (rock or slag) wool	•Ducts in unconditioned spaces •Other places requiring insulation that can withstand high temperatures	HVAC contractors fabricate the insulation into ducts either at their shops or at the job sites.	Can withstand high temperatures.
Sprayed foam and foamed-in-place	•Cementitious •Phenolic •Polyisocyanurate •Polyurethane	•Enclosed existing wall •Open new wall cavities •Unfinished attic floors	Applied using small spray containers or in larger quantities as a pressure sprayed (foamed-in-place) product.	Good for adding insulation to existing finished areas, irregularly shaped areas, and around obstructions.
Structural insulated panels (SIPs)	•Foam board or liquid foam insulation core •Straw core insulation	•Unfinished walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs for new construction	Construction workers fit SIPs together to form walls and roof of a house.	SIP-built houses provide superior and uniform insulation compared to more traditional construction methods; they also take less time to build.

I selected two ideal insulation methods from the table in terms of sustainability. One of which is  cellulose insulation and the other is in fact a product, GreenStuf insulation, created by Autex.

GreenStuf Insulation

http://autexindustries.com/nz/insulation

Thermally bonded with no chemical additives

Autex insulation products are made from 100% polyester fibre, bonded using heat instead of traditional chemical binders. Polyester is naturally resistant to fire, moisture, vermin, insects, mould and bacteria, eliminating the need for any chemical additives. This polyester insulation materials are non-toxic, non-irritating, non-allergenic and safe for anyone coming into contact with them. And that means no nasty itching and scratching and no ongoing health concerns for building occupiers.

Eco-friendly manufacture and recycling practices

All GreenStuf products contain a minimum of 45% recycled polyester fibre made from used and recycled PET bottle flake. GreenStuf insulation products are made from only polyester fibres so they remain fully recyclable at the end of their lives. GreenStuf products are manufactured under a Zero Waste policy and using a low-energy production process, putting them among the most environmentally-friendly insulation solutions on the market.

Made to last a lifetime

GreenStuf insulation products are exceptionally durable. They won’t slump, settle or deteriorate over time and they are backed by Autex’s 50-year Durability Warranty.

Safe and friendly solutions for new and existing homes

Autex has a great range of thermal and acoustic solutions for walls, ceilings and underfloors that will keep a home warm and dry in winter, cool in summer and energy-efficient all year round.

Cellulose Insulation

http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Recycled_Paper_Insulation

There are many forms of insulation available, however some new green options, including recycled paper insulation, are providing an exciting option for people who are looking for an energy efficient house. Recycled paper insulation is an attractive environmentally friendly option for people looking to build or renovate a home.

What is Recycled Paper Insulation?

Recycled paper insulation is a special form of insulation that is made from recycled paper. This is also known as cellulose insulation. The paper is processed and treated with a fire retardant to make it suitable and safe to use. Paper is naturally flammable and this means that if it is not treated it could prove a fire hazard, therefore being treated with a fire retardant is an important part of the process.

Recycled paper insulation offers many benefits and these include

- Environmentally friendly: this form of insulation is made from paper that would otherwise end up in.

- Insulation: recycled paper or cellulose insulation is a good form of insulation. It offers insulation against heat and cold, and is also a good form of sound insulation.

- Fire retardant: because paper insulation is treated with a fire retardant, it helps to reduce the risk of fire in the home.

- Loose fill and batts: recycled paper insulation is available in loose fill and batts, making it suitable for different uses.

Other Forms of Natural Insulation

There are other forms of natural insulation available. These include insulating products that are made from wool. Wool has good insulation properties and can be a good alternative to paper or cellulose insulation. Insulation made from recycled paper is a great option for people interested in green living. It keeps waste out of landfills, provides a good insulation product and will help to save energy which in turn saves money. This powerful combination makes this form of insulation difficult to ignore.

Chosen insulation method

In my previous post, I produced a diagram portraying wall cavities and exposing the insulation and the structure of the wall. I wanted to further develop this by heating the existing state house through the act of 'cutting'. I thought that cutting up recycled paper is the most sustainable and functional way to insulate a home. For this reason, I have decided to use cellulose insulation in the walls cavities of the existing state house.