ECO INSULATION

Eco insulation is often referred to as an eco-friendly type of insulation. It is manufactured in a sustainable way and can be recycled or reused afterwards. Many of the eco-friendly insulation options use natural fibres as the primary material choice. Those materials are used just like any of insulation. They can be used in wall, roof and floor assemblies. Unlike many conventional materials, natural fibre insulation materials don’t create hazardous conditions during installation. For example, they do not produce man made mineral fibre particulates (MMMF’s) or air quality polluting toxins such as formaldehyde. Insulation materials like wool and cotton are 100% safe to handle and cause no irritation to the skin or respiratory tract. And choosing insulation with recycled materials reduces your carbon footprint, since you’re investing in a product that makes use of content that would otherwise be sent to a landfill. Little energy is required for the production of these insulation materials.

TYPES OF ECO INSULATION

There are 7 main types of eco insulation. Each material has its own benefits – which we’ve summarised below:

1. SHEEP'S WOOL 

Sheep's wool is a superb natural product that’s becoming an ever-increasingly popular choice for sustainable insulation. It is called natural material obtained from sheep and other animals, including cashmere and mohair from goats. Because it is a natural fibre, sheep's wool insulation is also biodegradable, making it a more sustainable choice than synthetic insulation options. If you're looking for an environmentally-friendly way to insulate your home, sheep's wool insulation is a great option. It causes no issue to the health of people or the environment, it does not require any protective wearing while installation like fibreglass insulation. Sheep wool is nature's most effective insulator and has a crimped nature, which helps to form millions of tiny air pockets while packing or bonding wool fibre to trap air. The environmental benefits of sheep’s wool insulation are many. Each kg of natural fibre product locks up about 2-3 kg of carbon dioxide which helps remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Thermal Conductivity of sheep wool insulation is between 0.035-0.004 W/mK which makes sheep wool a better insulator. Sheep wool insulation can be used throughout the entire house from loft, floors, external walls and internal walls. It will keep its insulation value even if moisture is present in the building. Moreover, it is hygroscopic, so it can absorb around 25% of its own weight in moisture before its thermal efficiency drops. This ability to absorb water helps control humidity levels and reduces condensation within your home. Unfortunately, it is not the cheapest insulation material. Nevertheless, it has got excellent insulating and air-purifying capacities.

Thermafleece is a UK based sheep’s wool insulation company. They produce varieties of insulation made from natural fibres which in turn supports British farming. They have a selection of products available that differ in size or density and are suitable for use in walls, lofts and floors.

2. WOOD WOOL INSULATION

Wood wool insulation is a compact, next generation material that offers good acoustic and fire performance together with good insulation value (0.038-0.045 W/mK). Wood wool panels are composed 50% of long, strong fir fibres, 35% of mineral binders, mainly Portland cement and, the remaining 15%, made up of calcium carbonate residue from marble processing. Wood wool is an eco-friendly material, fit for the insulation of floors, walls and roofs. The material is customisable and does not cause irritation to skin or lungs. It has a high heat storage capacity and excellent acoustic insulation qualities as well. It is also light and bio-degradable material. It’s the same stuff that packs out a hamper or fine wine in a wooden box.

3. WOOD FIBRE INSULATION

Wood fibre board is a recyclable natural product made of wood fibres, which are tied up to each other through the effect of heat. Since it is easy to install, it is comparable to wood’s best features: strength, toughness and warmth. Rigid natural wood fibre boards range in thermal conductivity from 0.04 to 0.05 W/m2K. Moreover, the board does not shrink or collapse over time providing long lasting protection and performance. It has a high heat storage capacity, makes good soundproofing and compostable when it’s no longer needed. This is a great eco friendly insulation choice whilst also giving a valuable resource a second life. Wood fibre insulation is available in several forms, including wool-like rolls, semi-rigid boards or rigid boards. Wood fibre insulation is slightly less of an insulator in the traditional sense than rigid foam boards. However, because of the simpler construction, significantly lower thermal bridging values and lack of cavities the overall thickness is rarely thicker and may even be thinner.

4. CELLULOSE

Cellulose insulation is a clumpy type of paper-based product. It is generally derived from wood and paper such as recycled newspapers, cardboard and office paper. It is also treated with boric acid to prevent insect, fungus and rodent attack. For this reason, cellulose insulation is considered an eco-friendly home product. It is mechanically blown into or onto empty spaces in the structural part of a house to slow down the transmission of heat or cold. It is usually supplied loosely. Because of its nature, it has an average thermal conductivity (similar to rock wool), but it can fit into tight spaces. It actually takes 10 times more energy to produce fiberglass insulation than cellulose insulation. Insulating your house with cellulose insulation is quite cheap and environmentally friendly as well. This method is especially suited for the insulation of walls (timber frame construction), floors and roofs. If you are looking to minimize the toxins in your house, cellulose is a good choice.

5. CORK INSULATION

Cork is known as an eco-friendly, breathable product obtained from cork oak and is a 100% ecological and natural material. Once produced, the finished product actually has a negative carbon footprint. Cork reduces energy consumption and will continue to do so far longer than most insulation choices. It’s also hypoallergenic, free of domestic toxins and works to mute sounds. In fact, cork is such a good insulator that it is used by NASA to provide thermal protection for a range of spacecraft and rocket parts, including areas such as the engines and rocket boosters that have high predicted heat loads. As well as great thermal properties, cork insulation has excellent acoustic insulation and damp proof properties. It can be a little bit costly but this type of eco-friendly insulation is incredibly effective for a long time. Cork can be produced in the shape of granules or boards. Boards are available in a range of thicknesses and each board measures 500mm x 1000mm. The granules, on the other hand, function as an appropriate insulation material for cavity walls, floors or screed. Expanded cork is a fantastic insulation of walls, floors and ceilings. The low thermal conductivity (λ=0.037 - 0.040 W/m.K) of cork board offers high energy efficiency. Therefore contributing to an environmental and economic saving. There is no need to wear protective clothes during the installation. As cork does not cause irritation or dust, it is not harmful to health.

6. HEMP INSULATION

Hemp is obtained from the hemp plant. During the production of hemp insulation, cornmeal or polyester is added sometimes in order to strengthen the insulation. Hemp plants can be grown all year round with just a 100 day full growth span, making hemp insulation highly sustainable. The hemp plant can easily grow in very diverse conditions as it requires only very minimal levels of water plus doesn’t rely on artificial irrigation. This means it can be grown fully without the use of any chemical pesticides. As hemp wool is an excellent insulator, it can be applied as an environmentally friendly insulation material. As for the insulation value, hemp is as good as rock and glass wool materials. For this reason hemp wool has been proven as a reliable and trusted form of insulation for a wide range of properties. It is also a fantastic acoustic insulator. Moreover, it requires 14 times less energy to produce than polyurethane that offers an identical level of thermal performance. Like the other forms of eco-friendly insulation listed, hemp insulation is available in the form of batts or boards which can be cut to size for installation. The hemp fibres have a woody structure, they are strong and can easily be produced as insulation blankets. With the exception of damp rooms, hemp is an appropriate material to insulate roofs, walls, facades and floors. The hemp insulation boards have a rigid structure and they closely connect to each other. As a result, thermal bridges can be avoided. The boards are available with a thickness between 30mm and 190mm. Batts usually have a thickness between 30mm and 80mm. It is not recommended to use this insulation material in very damp rooms, like the basement. Hemp insulation is slightly more expensive than comparable and frequently-used insulation materials, however Iit comes free of adverse and noticeable smells so you can enjoy high-quality insulation.

7. COTTON

Cotton insulation is made of small, cellulose fibers sourced from all types of clothing items. It was initially developed in the 1990s from the enormous amount of scrap denim sourced from clothing manufacturers. It doesn’t contain formaldehyde and doesn’t cause respiratory problems. However, compared to fiberglass, it is incredibly expensive, costing nearly twice as much. Cotton batt insulation would reduce waste by giving old clothing "new life" as home insulation. In terms of insulation performance, fiberglass batts do slightly outperform their cotton counterparts. In general, cotton insulation will have an R-Value that ranges from 3-4 per inch. Cotton batt insulation can further reduce your vulnerability to potentially dangerous health issues. Whether you have noisy neighbors, high winds, or live next to the train tracks, thick layers of cotton batt insulation can provide silent interiors. Cotton insulation has virtually zero fire resistance. 

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