subject: Environmental Sustainability: Role of Green Insulation [print this page] Environmental Sustainability: Role of Green Insulation
Insulation is one of the most important factors that can be used for improving the energy efficiency of any building. It works primarily by restricting the flow of heat by building an envelope around the structure. As the heat flow is restricted, the home remains cooler during summers and warmer during winters. With the continual depletion of the energy resources, there is an immediate need to employ green insulation not only from the perspective of energy efficiency, but for the conservation of environment in the long run. Insulation saves money by reducing heating and cooling loads, along with maintaining comfortable living and working spaces. A major portion of the energy used by all kinds of the buildings is for maintenance of a desirable temperature, for which different electrical devices are used. However, the heating and cooling devices are over-worked and rendered ineffective in case the buildings are not properly insulated. The adoption of green insulation improves the energy efficiency of the buildings by isolating them effectively and restricting heat flow within or outside the building. As a result, the electrical devices are less used for maintaining optimum temperature within the house. The consequential decrease in the energy usage benefits financially by decreasing the power bills, along with lowering green house emissions. Green insulation is available in varied forms and materials like blown in cellulose, which is obtained by recycling old cloth, straw, newsprint and others. In cellulose insulation, loose-fill cellulose is mixed with water and blown in wet, usually without any added binders. This glutinous mixture is easily blown into gaps with the help of a machine and seals all the gaps appropriately, thereby eliminating air leakage and infiltration. Loose-fill cellulose can also be installed dry in a dense-pack form, which tightly packs the gaps and crevices, and can be used for retrofit as well as new insulation installation. For improving energy efficient of the house, insulation needs to be installed in different parts of the house such as attic, and building shell. Insulation of building shell is vital as maximum of the heat loss occurs through it. Hence, whenever you plan to install green insulation, make sure that it is done properly to maximize its benefits.
