What should you consider when trying to chose an insulation?

1. Specific Heat Capacity
Specific Heat Capacity refers to the amount of heat energy required to change 1kg of insulation by 1o Celsius. This is particularly important in modern style, heavily glazed buildings which can overheat during summer. A large amount of glass not only requires an effective shading and ventilation strategy, but the material selection and insulation type will also have a critical role.

2. Breathability
It’s important to be aware of the difference between “breathability” and “permeability”. Breathable materials, due to their unique cellular structure, can absorb and safely release excessive moisture vapour when conditions allow without damaging the insulation’s performance. Permeable materials on the other hand simply allow air and moisture to pass through and don’t have the same moisture regulating properties which breathable materials have.

3. Thermal Performance
If your main priority is achieving a low U-value, then opting for a woodfibre based insulation is a great place to start. It’s true that synthetic materials may achieve lower U-values, but you need to take into account the amount of energy used in their production for a whole home and environmental approach.

4. Environmental Impact
As people are becoming more conscious of the materials they choose, Governments too are beginning to actively push towards sustainability and energy efficiency also to promote ‘circularity’ within the construction industry. The logic behind this is that by minimizing the use of raw materials we use and by considering the entire life cycle of products, wasteful practices will be discouraged, so we will adopt better, more sustainable building practices. We can help place all of these considerations into your new home so you have an efficient comfortable and healthy home.