Environmentally Friendly UK Insulation Products

by Mark Row

What Can You Do for the Planet?

In the era of raised awareness on environmental protection, it does not come as a surprise that proper insulation, although a must, is no longer only regarded as an efficient way to add some comfort to our everyday lives, but also as a mean of environmental protection. Namely, there were a number of discussions on whether modern insulation products are harmful for the environment and can this be compensated with the energy savings that it can bring. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not as simple, since there are always two aspects that need to be considered. One concerns the energy effectiveness of the insulation material in question and the other its environmental impact. These two issues are often conflicted since some materials are highly efficient but not as eco-friendly. If you are sitting in your London apartment that needs insulation and wondering if there is anything you can do on the matter, note that there are environmentally friendly UK insulation products.

Most Efficient Eco Products

The first thing you need to know is that you should never give up on proper insulation, regardless of its potential negative effects for the environment. The main reason is that properly insulated home can not only add to the comfort of everyday life and make sure that your health is not jeopardized by weather conditions and harmful moisture and condensation, but it also makes sure that consumed energy is well used and distributed. Basically, what makes any insulation material potentially harmful for the environment is the fact that a certain amount of energy is consumed upon production which further on emits a certain amount of harmful gasses into the atmosphere. The other ecological aspect of an insulation product is the level of recyclability since some materials are more degradable than others, meaning that the longer it takes for the material to degrade and decompose the more negative impact it shall have on the environment. This is why the manufacturers have tried to find alternative ways of dealing with these issues, starting from the manufacturing process (including using agents that are more eco-friendly, using recyclable components etc) to the packaging and installation.

On the other hand, it is very important to know that the energy efficiency of an eco-friendly insulation product can also contribute to protecting the environment. Namely, proper insulation can help you save some energy within your home since it will keep the inner temperature at a more stable level and decrease the use of electrical appliances (heating and cooling devices) throughout the year.

Now, there are many eco-friendly insulation products, made from natural and recyclable materials, available on the market today, but probably the most popular (and for a reason) one is natural UK sheep wool insulation. Namely, it has all the advantages of rock wool insulation but is more environmentally friendly. ThermaFleece eco rolls containing even 75% of natural sheep wool (which is completely recyclable but highly efficient), 15% of recycled polyester and 10% polyester binder. It has a long life span and will maintain its stability and resistance throughout the years, when it can safely be removed, with no special protective equipment necessary. The same goes for the installation process, since it is very easy to handle and install, with no special installation methods applied and without professional help. It has very wide application which makes it one of the most commonly used eco-friendly insulation products. Another advantage is that it is not only used as a thermal insulator but can also provide a certain level of soundproofing, offering airborne sound reduction of Rw = 40dB.

Where Can It be Used?

As before mentioned environmentally friendly ThermaFleece rolls have very wide application in insulating walls, floors and roof structures. Their greatest strength that the installation method is always the same, regardless of where they are placed – is it the space under the roof, under the floorboards or behind your wall structure. All you need is some basic tools and you can undertake the installation project yourself.

Some useful tips on installing eco-friendly UK installation products include:

• make sure not to damage the material when preparing for installation. Namely, it is compressed so it can fit into standard size plastic bags, but it will decompress to its actual size once the package has been removed;
• make sure not to compress the material upon installation since this can decrease its insulation power;
• cut the material to the desired shape using a pair of scissors or a utility knife and use the remains to fill in potential gaps between the material and the wall or floorboards;
• make sure that the material is tightly tucked into the designated surface so it will not fall out of place in years to come (use some wires or a staple gun for this purpose);
• you can also add a vapour permeable layer under the insulation material in order of keeping it dry and protected from moisture and damp influences. 

For more information about green insulation materials and which ones are perfect for your insulation projects, please read related blog articles and product descriptions on our website, and feel free to contact us with your questions.