The importance of housing insulation and cellulose as the greenest choice
Rising energy costs and concerns over climate change have ushered in a new era of awareness for the need to conserve energy and push energy efficiency solutions. While this focus on energy conservation is welcome, potential customers are bombarded with marketing pitches for a wide variety of home energy improvements and “green” products.
One simple fact rises above the confusion—nothing is more important for reducing energy consumption, lowering utility bills and minimizing the environmental impact of a home than proper insulation.
When a house is properly insulated it keeps the temperature inside, whether hotter or colder, constant by controlling four key factors that cause heat transfer. Heat moves into, out of and through a home in four ways: by conduction (which R-Value measures), and by convection, radiation and air infiltration (none of which are measurable by R-Values).
A superior insulation system will have a high R-Value (prevent heat transfer via conduction), will be pneumatically or spray applied to fully fill the building cavity (preventing heat loss via convection), and when installed in closed cavities will be densely packed (preventing heat loss via air infiltration and radiation). Cellulose insulation meets all four of these critical performance criteria.
When a product like cellulose insulation is property installed by a specially trained professional, all four factors that control heat transfer are maximized resulting in better energy efficiency and a more comfortable living environment.
Properly insulated homes are warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. In addition, insulating attics, exterior walls and interior walls between rooms provides better sound control to make the living environment even more comfortable and in the end healthier for homeowners.
Cellulose insulation has been trusted method of insulating homes for decades. It is made from recycled paper and cardboard with one of the highest percentages of pre- or post consumer waste content of any insulation. It is treated with recognized safe fire retardants. Its excellent sound insulating properties, high R-value and industry leading environmental properties, make cellulose insulation a perfect choice.
Product benefits at a glance
SAFE AND ECONOMICAL APPLICATION
Seamless insulation layer in all types of constructions, regardless of the cavity geometry
Settling safe
No waste
Well-engineered machine technology for efficient processing
Competent advice and execution by trained specialist companies
EFFECTIVE THERMAL PROTECTION
Low thermal conductivity, even when the material moisture increases
Joint tightness
High resistance to the flow of cold air in winter
NOTICEABLE SUMMER HEAT PROTECTION
Low thermal conductivity
High specific heat capacity
High density
Joint tightness
High resistance to the flow of warm air in summer
EFFECTIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Charring when exposed to flames as with solid wood, protection of the construction
No melting and burning droplets
Constructions with all common fire resistance classes (F 30 to F 90) possible
Reduction of oxygen access to the structure
Cooling effect through evaporation of the material moisture
Delay in the passage of heat through thermal insulation and high heat storage capacity
GOOD SOUNDPROOFING
Optimal flow resistance
High degree of sound absorption
Joint tightness
High density
PERMANENT MOISTURE PROTECTION / WOOD PROTECTION
Open to diffusion
Capillary active in the hyperhygroscopic range
Adsorbable and desorbable
Can be used in wooden structures GK 0 according to DIN 68800-2 [69]
VERY GOOD ECOLOGICAL BALANCE
Upcycling of the raw material: newsprints, carboards and other sorts of papers
Low energy consumption in production
Can be extracted and recycled during dismantling
Comes from wood, additional CO2 binding over the service life
No waste, as there is no excess material during installation
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATION
EPD in accordance with EN 15804 and ISO 14025 issued in December 2023 (validity 5 years).
This EPD gives information about applications for loose fill cellulose insulation in open blowing, roof applications, wall applications and sprayed applications.