Insulation: Wrapping it upInsulation: Wrapping it up

By Shelly ShinevarBy Shelly Shinevar

Pay attention and you may hear the answers Pay attention and you may hear the answers to these questions during the presentation.to these questions during the presentation.

What is the most dangerous What is the most dangerous substance used for insulation dating substance used for insulation dating back to the Ancient Greeks and back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans?Romans?

Insulation reduces average home Insulation reduces average home heating and cooling costs by around heating and cooling costs by around what percent?what percent?

Which country banned Which country banned insulation in 1980?insulation in 1980?

What is insulation?What is insulation?

Building insulationBuilding insulation Acoustic insulationAcoustic insulation Thermal insulationThermal insulation Electrical insulationElectrical insulation Insulated glassInsulated glass

The term insulation refers to a substance that slows or retardsthe transfer of heat or sound.

Cross-section of home insulation.

We will focus on building We will focus on building insulation.insulation.

Building insulation materials are thermal Building insulation materials are thermal insulation used in the construction or insulation used in the construction or retrofit of buildings.retrofit of buildings.

The materials are used to reduce heat The materials are used to reduce heat transfer and are used in varying transfer and are used in varying combinations to achieve the desired effect combinations to achieve the desired effect (thermal comfort with reduced energy (thermal comfort with reduced energy consumption).consumption).

Common insulation application inside an apartment.

Thermal insulation in buildings is an Thermal insulation in buildings is an important factor in achieving thermal important factor in achieving thermal

comfort forcomfort forits occupants.its occupants.

Insulation reduces unwanted heat loss or Insulation reduces unwanted heat loss or gain and can decrease the energy demands gain and can decrease the energy demands of heating and cooling systems.of heating and cooling systems.

In cold climates, the main aim is to reduce In cold climates, the main aim is to reduce heat flow out of the building.heat flow out of the building.

In hot conditions, insulation can reduce the In hot conditions, insulation can reduce the heat from solar radiation.heat from solar radiation.

A Brief History of InsulationA Brief History of Insulation

There is evidence that the Ancient Mayans There is evidence that the Ancient Mayans constructed homes with thick walls to insulate constructed homes with thick walls to insulate against the heat.against the heat.

The Ancient Egyptians built homes The Ancient Egyptians built homes characterized by low roofs, small windows and characterized by low roofs, small windows and thick brick walls so heat couldn’t easily enter.thick brick walls so heat couldn’t easily enter.

The Ancient Greeks used cavity walls to The Ancient Greeks used cavity walls to insulate their homes. insulate their homes.

The Ancient Romans also used cavity walls The Ancient Romans also used cavity walls and insulated heated water pipes with cork.and insulated heated water pipes with cork.

Cavity walls

Ancient Mayan buildings

An example of an ancient Egyptian villa.

Drawing of an Ancient Greek home.

Ancient Roman buildings

History continued…History continued… Vikings and other northern Europeans Vikings and other northern Europeans

insulated their homes with mud chinking. insulated their homes with mud chinking. When mixed with horse or cattle dung and When mixed with horse or cattle dung and straw, the mud was called daub and was better straw, the mud was called daub and was better than plain mud.than plain mud.

In the Middle Ages, large ornately embroidered In the Middle Ages, large ornately embroidered or woven tapestries were hung on interior or woven tapestries were hung on interior walls to block drafts and soak up dampness.walls to block drafts and soak up dampness.

During the Great Depression, residents of the During the Great Depression, residents of the “Dust Bowl” used strips of cloth coated in flour-“Dust Bowl” used strips of cloth coated in flour-based glue or paste. City dwellers would stuff based glue or paste. City dwellers would stuff newspapers in cracks to keep out the winter newspapers in cracks to keep out the winter chill.chill.

Viking home

Medieval castle tapestry

History continued…History continued…

Asbestos was the main source of industrial Asbestos was the main source of industrial and residential insulation throughout the and residential insulation throughout the 1919thth and mid-20 and mid-20thth centuries. centuries.

In the 40’s & 50’s, mineral wool or rock wool In the 40’s & 50’s, mineral wool or rock wool started to become popular for insulation.started to become popular for insulation.

In the mid-70’s, the harmful health effects of In the mid-70’s, the harmful health effects of asbestos let to a swift decline in its use.asbestos let to a swift decline in its use.

With the decline of asbestos, other forms of With the decline of asbestos, other forms of insulation were found. insulation were found.

Building insulation materials Building insulation materials are thermal insulation used in are thermal insulation used in the construction or retrofit of the construction or retrofit of buildings. buildings.

The materials reduce heat transfer by The materials reduce heat transfer by conduction, radiation or convection.conduction, radiation or convection.

They are used in various combinations to They are used in various combinations to achieve thermal comfort with reduced energy achieve thermal comfort with reduced energy consumption.consumption.

Other types of insulation:Other types of insulation: Fiberglass – Considered to be the “traditional” choice in Fiberglass – Considered to be the “traditional” choice in

home insulation (glass wool/batts & blankets). Batts home insulation (glass wool/batts & blankets). Batts are precut. Blankets are available in continues rolls.are precut. Blankets are available in continues rolls.

Rock wool/slag wool/mineral wool/stone wool – Made Rock wool/slag wool/mineral wool/stone wool – Made from rock, iron ore, minerals or recycled glass.from rock, iron ore, minerals or recycled glass.

Styrofoam sheetsStyrofoam sheets PVC wraps (Polyvinyl Chloride)PVC wraps (Polyvinyl Chloride) Spray polyurethane foam (SPF)Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) Insulating concrete forms, rigid panels & structural Insulating concrete forms, rigid panels & structural

insulated panels (SIPs)insulated panels (SIPs) Paper cellulose (loose-fill)Paper cellulose (loose-fill) Recycled cotton denimRecycled cotton denim Sheep woolSheep wool Straw balesStraw bales Wood fiberWood fiber

Rock Wool and Slag wool

Natural Fiber Insulation Natural Fiber Insulation includes:includes:

Cork (including recycled wine bottle corks)Cork (including recycled wine bottle corks) CottonCotton Recycled tissue/clothesRecycled tissue/clothes Hemp & flaxHemp & flax Lightweight wood fiberLightweight wood fiber Cellulose Cellulose SeaweedSeaweed Nut shellsNut shells Corn cobsCorn cobs StrawStraw

Insulation may be categorized Insulation may be categorized by:by:

Composition (material)Composition (material) Form (structural or non-structural)Form (structural or non-structural) Functional mode (conductive, radiative, Functional mode (conductive, radiative,

convective)convective) Non-structural forms include batts, Non-structural forms include batts,

blankets, loose-fill, spray foam & panels.blankets, loose-fill, spray foam & panels. Structural forms include insulating Structural forms include insulating

concrete forms, structured panels & concrete forms, structured panels & straw bales.straw bales.

Factors affecting whichFactors affecting whichinsulation to use:insulation to use:

ClimateClimate Ease of installationEase of installation DurabilityDurability Ease of replacementEase of replacement Cost effectivenessCost effectiveness ToxicityToxicity FlammabilityFlammability Environmental impact and sustainabilityEnvironmental impact and sustainability

Insulation no longer used:

Urea-formaldehyde foam (UFFI) & panels – releases formaldehyde gas.

Asbestos – Can cause cancer in friable form, when fibers are released in the air.

Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) – Often uses hazardous chemicals with high toxicity.

Fiberglass – Potential cancer risk. Loose-fill cellulose – Low-level toxicity and mold

potential.

What is a building envelope?What is a building envelope?

The building envelope is the physical The building envelope is the physical separator between the interior and the separator between the interior and the exterior environments of a building.exterior environments of a building.

The physical components of the envelope The physical components of the envelope include the foundation, roof, walls, doors & include the foundation, roof, walls, doors & windows. windows.

The thermal envelope (or heat flow control The thermal envelope (or heat flow control layer) is usually different than the building layer) is usually different than the building envelope.envelope.

For windows, Insulated Glass For windows, Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) are most often Units (IGUs) are most often used:used:

Insulated glazing (IG) also known as double glazing are Insulated glazing (IG) also known as double glazing are double or triple glass window panes separated by an double or triple glass window panes separated by an air or other gas-filled space to reduce heat transfer air or other gas-filled space to reduce heat transfer across a part of the building envelope. across a part of the building envelope.

Laminated or tempered glass may also be used.Laminated or tempered glass may also be used. The maximum insulating efficiency of a standard IGU is The maximum insulating efficiency of a standard IGU is

determined by the thickness of the space containing determined by the thickness of the space containing the gas or vacuum. the gas or vacuum.

Gases used include oxygen, nitrogen, argon, krypton Gases used include oxygen, nitrogen, argon, krypton or xenon.or xenon.

The double-glazed window was invented in the 1930s The double-glazed window was invented in the 1930s and was commonly available in the U.S. in the 1950s.and was commonly available in the U.S. in the 1950s.

A sectioned diagram of a fixed Insulated Glazed Unit (IGU): Surface #1 is facing outside, Surface #2 is the inside surface of the exterior pane, Surface #3 is the outside surface of the interior pane, and Surface #4 is the inside surface of interior pane. The window frame is labeled #5, a spacer is indicated as #6, seals are shown in red (#7), the internal reveal is on the right hand side (#8) and the exterior windowsill on the left (#9).

Contractors are installing new energy efficient windows in the Calhoun County Building as part of the EECBG project. Calhoun County received $351,450 for this Multi-Purpose project.

What is Building Envelope What is Building Envelope Thermography?Thermography?

It involves using an infrared camera to view It involves using an infrared camera to view temperature anomalies on the interior and temperature anomalies on the interior and exterior surfaces of the structure. exterior surfaces of the structure.

In passive thermography, the features of In passive thermography, the features of interest are naturally at a higher or lower interest are naturally at a higher or lower temperature than the background.temperature than the background.

In active thermography, an energy source is In active thermography, an energy source is required to produce a thermal contrast required to produce a thermal contrast between the feature of interest and the between the feature of interest and the background.background.

Thermogram of a traditional building in the background and a “passive

house" in the foreground.

What is building science?What is building science?

Building science is the collection of Building science is the collection of scientific knowledge that focuses on the scientific knowledge that focuses on the analysis and control of the physical analysis and control of the physical phenomena affecting buildings. phenomena affecting buildings.

It traditionally includes the detailed analysis It traditionally includes the detailed analysis of building materials and building envelope of building materials and building envelope systems.systems.

This concerns energy consumption, This concerns energy consumption, environmental control-ability, sustainability, environmental control-ability, sustainability, maintenance and occupant comfort & maintenance and occupant comfort & health.health.

The U.S. Dept. of Energy has a Building Technologies Program The U.S. Dept. of Energy has a Building Technologies Program (BTP) to develop technologies, techniques, and tools for (BTP) to develop technologies, techniques, and tools for making buildings more energy efficient, productive and making buildings more energy efficient, productive and

affordable.affordable.

Facts about Energy EfficiencyFacts about Energy Efficiencyand Insulationand Insulation

Insulation reduces average home heating Insulation reduces average home heating & cooling costs by around 20%.& cooling costs by around 20%.

Insulation currently in place in U.S. Insulation currently in place in U.S. buildings reduces the amount of carbon buildings reduces the amount of carbon dioxide by 780 million tons each year.dioxide by 780 million tons each year.

For every pound of carbon dioxide emitted For every pound of carbon dioxide emitted in the production of insulation, 330 lbs are in the production of insulation, 330 lbs are avoided by the use of insulation.avoided by the use of insulation.

Insulation saves over 600 times more Insulation saves over 600 times more energy each year than all of the CFLs, energy each year than all of the CFLs, Energy Star appliances, and Energy Star Energy Star appliances, and Energy Star windows combined.windows combined.

What is the most dangerous substance What is the most dangerous substance used for insulation dating back to the used for insulation dating back to the

Ancient Greeks and Romans?Ancient Greeks and Romans?

AsbestosAsbestos

The Greeks named asbestos. They also had The Greeks named asbestos. They also had a common name for it – crysotile (means a common name for it – crysotile (means gold cloth). Both the Greeks & Romans gold cloth). Both the Greeks & Romans used it for napkins, tablecloths and dressed used it for napkins, tablecloths and dressed their slaves in it. The Greeks first noticed it their slaves in it. The Greeks first noticed it caused a “lung sickness” in their slaves.caused a “lung sickness” in their slaves.

Insulation reduces average home heating Insulation reduces average home heating and cooling costs by around what percent?and cooling costs by around what percent?

20%20%

For residential and commercial For residential and commercial buildings, energy efficiency through buildings, energy efficiency through insulation is the simplest and most insulation is the simplest and most cost-effective way to reduce energy cost-effective way to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Which country banned Which country banned insulation in 1980?insulation in 1980?

Canada

About 100,000 people had insulation in their homes.

The End