Discover the health benefits of Wool Insulation

 Insulation is one of the most important factors to consider when mapping out your house’s design, influencing everything from comfort to energy efficiency to overall well-being, and there’s much more on the market to consider for your project than your classic artificial insulator material.

Wool is nature’s miracle fibre and a material that has been utilised for centuries due to its natural properties and sustainability. Wool Insulation NZ has made the most of New Zealand’s extravagant sheep population, offering the perfect alternative to the typical artificial insulation used more commonly in construction today. 

We deep dive into the benefits with Richard Bennett of Wool Insulation, discussing its incredibly vast range of beneficial properties and why this is the material to seriously consider when venturing into your home project. 

As the world works towards embracing greener practices, the construction industry moves with the times. With this in mind, the naturality of wool sets it apart from other materials on offer - derived from the fleece of sheep; it’s a renewable resource that helps bid farewell to anything synthetic in your home's airflow. 

Based in New Zealand, Wool Insulation makes the most of our significant sheep population, with “every single tiny component of this product being from New Zealand - our wool is sourced from all over the country.”

“Wool is a protein fibre similar to human hair, so it's biodegradable and non-toxic,” says Richard. 

“It doesn't produce any toxic fumes, unlike your fibreglass or polyester options, which, when heated up, heats plastic that will give off some fume. You don't need specialised equipment such as specific PPE when installing Wool Insulation. It's fully recyclable, 100% circular, sustainable, and biodegradable; it's a long-life material that lasts forever.” 

As it’s a biodegradable material, wool also decomposes naturally at the end of its lifespan, minimising its impact on our landfills and ecosystems.

Not only is it kind to Mother Earth, but also your health and well-being. “It's the best option for people who suffer from allergies as it won't release any fibre fragments into the air, triggering allergic reactions or sensitivity to asthmatics. If you have a fibreglass product in your house with some airflow,  you will 100%  have glass fibres floating in your home's air - they'll even be in your Weet-Bix!”

Its non-toxic properties mitigate any harmful substances being released into your home's environment, and it works as a natural filter by trapping and filtering any airborne particles such as dust, pollen, or other allergens, dramatically increasing air purity and significantly decreasing allergic reactions. A healthier living space is a guarantee.

“Anybody who suffers from any breathing disorder - there's only one product that they should have: wool insulation. Asthmatics will feel the difference straight away.”

With all of the health benefits aside, insulation at the end of the day is there to create a comfortable and stable indoor temperature, providing resistance against heat flow and lowering your maintenance costs. 

“Wool is a natural air conditioner that can moderate the humidity inside your house. When the external temperature drops, the air's moisture increases, and wool absorbs that increase, and vice versa. Your artificial, petrol- and oil-based products absorb moisture and don't repel it; it will just hold onto it,” says Richard. 

The material's natural ability to absorb and release moisture also helps to regulate indoor humidity levels and diminish the growth of mould and mildew, furthering the beneficial effects for people with breathing conditions such as asthma. 

Wool possesses amazing fire-resistant properties, making it one of the safest choices for homeowners in the material-choosing process. 

“Probably the most important factor when it comes to wool as insulation is that you can't set fire to wool - you would need an accelerant. You can imagine what happens in a house fire - as soon as traditional insulation gets near the flame, it just goes up straightaway due to all of the synthetic materials, whereas wool will just smoulder.”

In this scenario, wool also produces significantly less smoke and toxic fumes when exposed to the flame, adding an extra layer of safety to your home.

For those seeking a sustainable, natural, and incredibly effective choice that promises energy efficiency and fantastic health benefits for a comfortable home, look no further than Wool Insulation. With its remarkable insulating properties and minimal environmental impact, cosying up on the couch in the winter or lazing in the sunshine in the summer never sounded so tempting.

Discover more about Wool Insulation New Zealand on ArchiPro.