New Thermafleece CosyWool Sizes Launched
Eden Renewable Innovations has announced the upcoming launch of new sizes for their Thermafleece British Sheeps Wool insulation rolls and slabs.
From the Thermafleece office near Penrith, Managing Director Mark Lynn explained, ‘Adding a 25mm thick roll available in widths of both 370mm and 570mm addresses the market’s request for a product to insulate service voids— helping to reduce U-Values and generate further energy savings for the homeowner.’
Additionally, the company has aligned the width of the CosyWool slab packs with the roll sizes. ‘This change has again been driven by our industry and end users who found the previous slab pack sizes large and cumbersome. By changing the width and reducing the number of slabs in a single pack, the carriage becomes more manageable and the ability for the stockist / end user to store and handle the packs is much improved.’
The new sizes will be available on this website from the 1st June
Eden Firm features in remarkable Renovations project
On a chilly day back in 2023, architect, TV presenter and writer George Clarke and the Amazing Productions team visited wool scouring and production facilities in Yorkshire to explore the manufacturing process of Thermafleece insulation, made from British Wool.
Thermafleece, based in Dacre, near Penrith, was born nearly 25 years ago out of an incentive to create a natural British Wool insulation which was readily available in the UK. Today if finds application in a diverse range of modern and traditional buildings nationwide, from castles to shepherds’ huts.
Thermafleece is owned by Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd, a private company, and its CosyWool and Ultrawool remain the UK’s first and only insulation made from British Sheep’s Wool.
The visit to the Yorkshire facilities was showcased in an episode of George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations which aired on Channel 4 on 18th March. Viewers witnessed the conversion of a barber shop in Amersham into a beautiful warm family home.
First published in Cumberland and Westmorland Herald – March 24th 2024
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“Materials – An Environmental Primer”
A forthcoming reference book, “Materials – An Environmental Primer” Published by RIBA and edited by Hattie Harman and Jack Williams sheds light on the environmental implications of material selection.
Each chapter is devoted to a single material and written by an industry expert.
‘We’re thrilled that the industry expert chosen to author the insulation chapter was our own MD Mark Lynn, Mark is also chair of the ASBP’. More details from: https://www.ribabooks.com/
First published on www.thermafleece.com – March 2024
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Traditional solid walls – the hardest to improve part of the hardest to heat properties
Traditional solid walls are often seen as the ‘hardest to improve part of the hardest to heat properties, in the March /April copy of Listed Heritage, Mark Lynn explains why they are often considered too hard to deal with and how we need to approach things from a different angle, striking a balance between saving energy and preserving the building fabric
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Why Wool Matters – Winner of Best Fashion Documentary
Congratulations to The Campaign for Wool and Lloyd Almond Productions for their documentary ‘Why Wool Matters’ which was awarded the overall winner of the main category Best Fashion Documentary in the prestigious ‘London Fashion Film Festival held in the capital on the 16th September.
The film, which highlights wool’s natural eco properties, including its biodegradability, along with circular economy, regenerative farming and feed management in relation to reducing carbon and methane gas emissions, faced tough competition from Nike AirMax, Hermes, Lacoste and key actors including Henry Golding, Scarlett Johansson, and an array of infinite talent and film: The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive.
Find out more about The Campaign for Wool at https://www.campaignforwool.org/the-campaign/
Watch the film on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m21Xn8R7188
Wool – Insulate with it, soundproof with it, wear it, walk on it, wrap things with it. The world’s oldest renewable fibre is also the most versatile and modern.
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Made in Britain’s Product of the Week
On the same week as Thermafleece was announced as Made In Britain’s Product of the week, the British Sheep’s Wool company based in Dacre, Cumbria was awarded the title Best Wool Insulation Company in the UK Enterprise Awards 2022.
Now in its sixth year, the SME UK Enterprise Awards continues to recognise SMEs of all sizes who are endeavouring to bettering business in their industries. Whether it’s by nourishing rich internal cultures to promote employee satisfaction, by offering next-level customer service, or through an enduring dedication to innovative products – British SMEs are truly the lifeblood of the country’s economy and business landscape.
Award Coordinator Holly Blackwood took a moment to discuss the success of this year’s programme: “One of the joys of this programme is realising the sheer talent and skill that permeates every inch of the British business sphere, across all industries and fields. So here’s a massive congratulations and I hope you all have a wonderful – and productive- rest of the year ahead.
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New Thermafleece Video on YouTube
A new Thermafleece video with detailed information about the CosyWool Roll product is now available to view on the Thermafleece YouTube Channel. ‘We thought it was time that we showed people just what they will be receiving when they order our product. This short video explains not only the size and weight of a pack but also width and thicknesses available. ‘ said Thermafleece MD Mark Lynn.
Click here to access the Thermafleece YouTube Channel
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Thermafleece features in Build It Magazine May 22 Issue
Anamika Talwaria investigates how to upgrade your heritage property
When it comes to bringing an older home into the 21st century, you probably want to improve performance while keeping attractive period features intact. A big part of this is respecting the character of the original property by ensuring your material choices sit seamlessly in the building fabric. Older properties were often built with local, natural products – so you should try to replace like-for-like. However, this isn’t always possible or practical.
Here, I’m going to explore which materials could work well for your renovation – from insulation and render, through to windows and rainwater goods.
To read the article in full click here
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EPD for Thermafleece insulation range
Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are now available for Thermafleece CosyWool, UltraWool and SupaSoft Insulation. The EPD’s are independently verified providing transparent data you can trust.
As the demand for transparency and independent data grows the need for verified EPD’s becomes ever greater. EPD’s are a way of determining and publishing the environmental impact of products and cover a range of aspects including embodied carbon, measured as the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the product.
The data on the Thermafleece, UltraWool and SupaSoft Insulation EPD’s is published for the thickness required to achieve an R value of 1 enabling easy comparison with other products.
All EPD’s are available through the Environdec EPD Library and will shortly be published on the ASBP online EPD database.
To learn more about EPD there is plenty of material on the ASBP web site, https://asbp.org.uk/workstream/environmental-product-declarations
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The Advantages of using Natural Fibre Insulation in Listed Properties
By Guest contributor Mark Lynn
Many owners of older properties are familiar with the importance of breathability and using breathable natural fibre insulation (NFI). There are many additional reasons for using insulation made using materials such as sheep’s wool, wood fibre, hemp and straw.
Intuitively, the rationale for using NFI in traditional buildings is simple: they make use of materials in common use at the time of construction, so they work in sympathy with the fabric of older buildings. This is particularly important when it comes to maintaining a healthy moisture and humidity balance within the building fabric.
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NFI’s breathe in a way no other insulation does. Not only is natural fibre insulation highly vapour-permeable, the fibres bind and release water molecules like tiny magnets depending on the humidity of the surrounding air. When this happens, the moisture is bound in a much less harmful form than liquid water droplets. This enables NFI to be truly breathable, helping prevent the accumulation of harmful moisture and ensuring the insulation performs consistently across a wide humidity range. Most of us recognise the importance of insulation in preventing heat loss, saving energy and reducing operational carbon (the sum of the energy needed to heat, cool and light a property), but fewer connect insulation with other aspects of building performance. Insulation can account for more than 50% of the volume of the building fabric so it’s important to appreciate what insulation does. In fact, insulation and NFI’s in particular play a significant role in many aspects of a building’s performance, including energy efficiency, heat gain, acoustic comfort, sustainability, moisture balance, indoor air quality, buildability, durability and fire performance. The acoustic properties of natural fibre insulation are often overlooked. Because of their irregular surface, shape and density, fibres such as sheep’s wool are very effective at disrupting sound. That’s one of the reasons why not need to be supported within timbers, a continuous layer of insulation can be achieved which eliminates thermal bridging. The most common rigid insulation is wood fibre or cork. Wood fibre is more widely available and cost efficient. Cork is also becoming a popular choice. Thermafleece British sheep’s wool is the most widely used flexible insulation in the UK, with flexible wood fibre and hemp also common. Flexible insulation is formed by combining natural fibres with a small about of binder fibre, which holds the insulation together and prevents slumping. This type of thermally bonded insulation is very durable and retains full breathability as the natural fibres are fully exposed to the surrounding air. The choice of fibre type largely depends on personal preference and cost, sheep’s wool often being the lowest cost NFI option. Flexible NFI can also be used in walls providing it is held within a timber stud frame. When it comes to upgrading the thermal performance of existing buildings, it is important to look at each property on its own merits. The choice and availability of natural fibre insulation has never been greater. With established technologies and expertise within the UK, suppliers are able to provide comprehensive support to clients and professionals to ensure the most appropriate products and systems for each building. sheep’s wool and wood fibre insulation can provide acoustic performance comparable to the best mineral fibre products. With natural fibre insulation available using a variety of materials such as wool, wood, hemp and straw it’s often a puzzle as to which one to use or which is best. There is a large element of personal preference, but it depends firstly on the where the insulation is to be used and the type of insulation required, whether it’s rigid, flexible or loose fibre. Rigid insulation is particularly good for insulating walls and for use over or under rafters in roofs. Because the insulation does not need to be supported within timbers, a continuous layer of insulation can be achieved which eliminates thermal bridging. The most common rigid insulation is wood fibre or cork. Wood fibre is more widely available and cost efficient. Cork is also becoming a popular choice. Thermafleece British sheep’s wool is the most widely used flexible insulation in the UK, with flexible wood fibre and hemp also common. Flexible insulation is formed by combining natural fibres with a small about of binder fibre, which holds the insulation together and prevents slumping. This type of thermally bonded insulation is very durable and retains full breathability as the natural fibres are fully exposed to the surrounding air. The choice of fibre type largely depends on personal preference and cost, sheep’s wool often being the lowest cost NFI option. Flexible NFI can also be used in walls providing it is held within a timber stud frame. When it comes to upgrading the thermal performance of existing buildings, it is important to look at each property on its own merits. The choice and availability of natural fibre insulation has never been greater. With established technologies and expertise within the UK, suppliers are able to provide comprehensive support to clients and professionals to ensure the most appropriate products and systems for each building. Mark Lynn is managing director of Cumbria-based Eden Renewable Innovations and vice-chair of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP).
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Natural Fibre Insulation recommended by The Environmental Audit Committee
The latest report from The Environmental Audit Committee’s (EAC) on the Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes has been published, with welcome recommendations on incentivising the use of natural fibre insulation materials.
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The enquiry found a number of inadequacies within the sector and called for overhauls of the Green Homes Grant – which was subsequently scrapped on the 31st March – and Energy Performance Certificates (EPC). The report also recommends reductions in VAT rates for energy saving refurbishment materials and notes a ‘chronic shortage of skills in the home retrofit sector’. Particular emphasis is weighed on the anticipated publication of the Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy to ‘provide clarity and inspire confidence in the sector’. With reference to sustainable construction materials and natural fibre insulation (NFI), the report states (p54): The committee’s conclusions and recommendations (p61) were: Mark Lynn took part in an Environmental Audit Committee panel session on the 18th November 2020, and also submitted written evidence to the committee in December 2020. Mark is also Vice Chair of the ASBP Addendum: On the 25th March, The Environmental Audit Committee launched a call for evidence for sustainability of the built environment: The Committee is accepting submissions to its questions in the call for evidence until 16 May 2021. https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1147/sustainability-of-the-built-environment/
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Wool – The Ultimate in Renewable Technology.
In a packed programme shown on Sunday 14th March, Countryfile explored 48 hours of hectic lambing action whilst reporter Tom Heap visited British Wool in an attempt to find a solution to the mountains of wool piling up in warehouses across the country.
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As demand for British Wool carpets has declined – a direct result of covid _19 according to Acting British Wool CEO Andrey Hogley – it is imperative that alternative, viable uses for wool are found. Thermafleece MD Mark Lynn explores this issue in his blog on our Website – ‘We should promote the benefits of British wool as a fantastic high-quality raw material worthy of many high value end-uses. Insulation is a great end-use for coarse dark wool and other low grades of which there is plenty. But we should focus on higher value end-uses for higher quality wool rather than insulation. British wool is one of the best materials in the world. It produces high quality durable, functional and beautiful products compared to man-made fibres or wools of other origins. And that’s where the wool industry’s efforts need to be.’ Read the full blog at https://naturalinsulations.co.uk/blog/insulation-the-solution-to-our-mountain-of-wool/ Watch the Countryfile Lambing Special on BBC Iplayer here
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SupaSoft Recycled Plastic bottle Insulation –
Adding to the warm atmosphere at Appleby Hub
Since 2015 Appleby Hub, located in the former Methodist chapel on Chapel Street, Appleby, Cumbria has been providing a community café serving homemade artisan wholefoods, a second-hand book shop, together with a great variety of community groups and classes all with a focus on creativity and well-being
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With the onset of Covid_19 and the Hub unable to operate as a café and meeting place, a food and craft delivery service ‘Hub on Wheels’ was devised. Whilst working with The Fellside Flower Company to deliver bunches of flowers as they go around the area, the hub also supply their range of artisan breads and cakes to other businesses in the town, helping to keep the wheels of Appleby turning and a venture which Manager Sarah Jones is hoping will continue once the lockdown ceases. It was earlier in the year, before Covid_19, that The Hub received the Green small business certification of which they are very proud. The certification process together with a site visit from the GSB team brought to attention the lack of effective insulation in the Hub loft area. Looking for local suppliers, Sarah contacted Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd, based in Dacre. ERI is the brainchild of owner Christine Armstrong and best known locally for their Thermafleece range of sheep’s wool insulation however Eri also manufacture an insulation made from recycled plastic bottles; SupaSoft Insulation. A safe to handle, safe to install, none itch insulation which Christine felt would fit in perfectly with the Hub’s Green Business credentials. A total of 72 packs of SupaSoft, the equivalent of 57600 waste plastic bottles not going to landfill) were delivered at the beginning of June and have now been installed by local firm Nathan Richardson Joinery, turning the loft into a SupaSoft Winter wonderland, ‘I’m so grateful to Eden Renewables.’ says Sarah, ‘Just like everybody we’ve had a difficult financial start to the year and being toasty warm and saving on heating bills this winter will be greatly appreciated. SupaSoft is a lovely product too, so much kinder than the old-fashioned fibre glass insulation and very in keeping with our environmental values.’ Christine was originally introduced to The Hub by late friend Eddie Kay, who would use it as a meeting place to enjoy coffee with friends and says: ‘The Hub is a great example of just how a Community Interest Company can become such a central point of focus. We at ERI were pleased that we could provide a solution to another local company so in-keeping with their green credentials and helping add to the warm atmosphere for which the Hub is so well known’ Appleby Hub is owned by the Oakleatrust and run by subsidiary right2work , a CIC (Community Interest Company) Further information on The Hub or SupaSoft information can be found at: http://www.oakleatrust.co.uk/what-we-do/the-appleby-hub
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Innovative Dragons Den Series Launched by the ASBP
The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP), in collaboration with the ASBP Plastics in Construction Group, has launched an exciting new innovation pitch series.
Aimed at innovators, start-ups and manufacturers launching new product ranges, the purpose of the ‘Dragons’ Den’ style event programme is to identify innovative alternatives to conventional plastic building materials and packaging. The products can be at any stage of the innovation cycle from early development to market ready. There are a number of events in the series, each with a focus on different product types: Each event will feature 3 guest ‘Dragons’ as judges, who will share their expertise with the audience. They will have relevant expertise from across the sustainable development, investment and green building sectors. The first of the Dragon’s Den Pitch events takes place on Thursday 18th June, 14:00-15:30 and is focussed on innovative insulation materials. Invited Dragons are: Dr John Williams: Senior Partner at Sinvestec LLC and has over 25 years’ experience in strategic technical roles in polymers and biotech in both global multi-nationals and small and medium-sized enterprises. Jamie Page: Chief Executive at The Cancer Prevention and Education Society. Jamie will share his research on the significant health risks associated with fire retardants. Mark Lynn: Managing Director at Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd has over 18 years’ experience in the fields of natural insulation and timber preservation. He is passionate about making the best use of local resources, minimising waste and ensuring that sustainability, performance and quality go hand in hand. All events in the series will be streamed live online as a webinar (Zoom) and will also be recorded for on-demand viewing. All events are free to attend. To register and for more information, please visit https://asbp.org.uk/upcomingevents.
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Read the latest Newsletter from Thermafleece
The latest newsletter from Thermafleece is available to download here So if you want to know more about insulation that is healthy for you, your home and the planet; how to insulate the underside of a suspended floor or how to turn your garden shed into a shoffice; to download the new set of application notes for walls, cold roofs, warm roofs and floors or for your chance to receive a thermafleece tea towel why not take a look?
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Still time to get ‘Early Bird’ discount tickets for Healthy Buildings Conference
There is still time to get your ‘Early Bird’ tickets for the ASBP Healthy Buildings Conference and Expo, sponsored by Velux, is to be held at Amnesty International UK’s Human Rights Action Centre in London on Thursday 27th Feb. The ASBP are offering a 20% discount on tickets ordered up and until the 31st Jan 2019 for your chance to hear inspirational speakers discussing the radical, energy and resource efficient approaches that are required to address the climate crisis and deliver healthy, net zero buildings with better indoor environments. Chair of the Event is Thermafleece MD and Vice Chair of the ASBP, Mark Lynn and Keynote speakers are award-winning social entrepreneur and author Sam Conniff Allende and Mary Creagh, Chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee Find out more on the ASBP website at https://asbp.org.uk/healthybuildings2020 To find out what has been happening in Cumbria over the past couple of months, marvel at the Thermafleece wool hats created by a local knit and knitter group, read frequently asked questions, find out how to get tickets for the ASBP Healthy Buildings Conference and Expo on the 27th Feb or download a brochure – the winter newsletter from Thermafleece is available here. The six project shortlist for the ASBP Awards 2020, were announced on the 26th November. The awards, now in their 2nd year recognise construction projects which exemplify excellence in sustainability through their products, design and delivery. The submissions were judged by the ASBP’s experienced board members and assessed against the ASBP’s “Six Pillars of Sustainable Construction”: Health and well-being, resource efficiency, whole-life carbon, ethics and transparency, technical performance and social value. Congratulations to those involved with the following projects: Further information about the awards and the six pillars of sustainable construction are available on the ASBP website at https://asbp.org.uk/asbp-awards Wells Shepherd Huts the Shepherd’s Hut manufacturing company located in the beautiful countryside within the Ribble Valley pride themselves on their use of traditional craftsmanship in the manufacture and refurbishment of bespoke handcrafted Shepherd’s Huts. Read More
Co-owner and founder Ian Wells has been interested in joinery since he was five years old. From leaving school Ian worked for local joinery companies over a number of years, gaining skills and experience across all areas of joinery, but in 2007 he decided to break away and started to forge his own company. Wells Shepherd Huts has grown from a simple idea that the Victorian shepherd’s huts on cast iron wheels that farmers used when tending to their flocks of sheep, could be transformed into these beautiful contemporary and fully insulated structures that we produce today. “Our ethos, at Wells Shepherd Hut’s, is to use as much as possible sustainable, renewable and locally sourced materials in the manufacture of our hut’s. We would not want to use anything else other than Thermafleece sheep wool insulation. Thermafleece have been fantastic in providing us, here at Wells shepherd huts, with a complete range of information and choice to suit our hut builds. Their products are reasonably priced and are of a very high-quality. The benefits of using Thermafleece sheep wool product far out way any man-made products both thermally and acoustically. We feel it is very fitting to give something back to the Shepherd’s huts by using the sheep wool insulation, not only as the wool is from a sustainable source and to give it a value once again, but because the iconic shepherd’s huts once allowed the farmers to support the sheep.” – Joanne Wells The designs of the shepherd’s huts the company produce are based around the proportions left behind from the Victorian’s and their shepherd’s huts. These wriggly tined, curved roofed structures that have the cast iron wheels set outside of the body of the hut can be called a shepherd hut. This contrasts with the living van that has cast or sometimes tyre wheels set underneath the body. These living vans were used by road workers and were generally moved along the roads by traction engines. All of the huts are bespoke, and Wells Shepherd’s Huts can manufacture from 12ft right up to 24ft, but these sizes are not fixed and the ideas for a dream shepherd’s hut can be endless. Whether it is for a spare room to your home, a holiday business venture, home office in the garden, art studio or a hide away. They have designed a hut for a nail salon and another as a pop-up bar. The most recent hut build is the 12ft Vintage writer’s hut. This originally was an actual working example of the Victorian Shepherd’s hut, with a date carved into one of the timbers of 1881. The hut was originally purchased for a renovation project, but when dismantling began it quickly came to light a new timber chassis was required. So the company replicated the original one and we able to re-use the 1881 black smith made ironwork along with the cast iron wheels. After long discussions amongst the team on finishing designs and colours they agreed on a black curved tin roof, mushroom wriggly tin exterior with matching paint finish windows and stable door. But Ian was set on the interior being similar to the original hut. This would be a smooth sawn feel to the interior wall cladding, finished with a patina finish to give an aged look. With Thermafleece sheep wool insulated floor, roof and walls, a chocolate oak floor, the mushroom coloured windows with a long wall supported desk and easily placed electric power points. The Vintage writer’s hut was born. Your Questions Answered: Wells Shepherd Huts Website: www.wellsshepherdhuts.com The ASBP Healthy Buildings Conference and Expo returns for 2020, taking place on Thursday 27th February at Amnesty International UK’s Human Rights Action Centre in London.
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Winter newsletter from Thermafleece now available.
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ASBP Awards – Shortlist announced.
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Well’s Shepherd Huts – Supporting the Sheep
To install a shepherd’s hut is relatively easy. There is generally no planning permission needed as they are a movable item, but we always ask yourlocal council first.
Access of 9ft wide and 15ft high is needed to manoeuvre huts to their location.
The ground must be level and a hard surface, not soil or grass to house the shepherd’s hut as they are heavy.
Yes, an electric power source if needed although solar power systems are an option.
Water and, or waste systems i.e. septic tanks or mains sewer if needed. Compost toilets are very popular as no system is needed.
Stydd Lodge Farm,
Stydd Ln,
Ribchester,
Preston
PR3 3YQASBP Healthy Buildings Conference & Expo 2020
Find out more on the ASBP website https://asbp.org.uk/healthybuildings2020
Read the September Newsletter from Thermafleece
Would you like free tickets to the Home Building and Renovating Show at the Bath & West Showground, Somerset on the 16 – 17 November or do you want to know more about the fascinating wool scouring process at Thomas Chadwick and Sons in Yorkshire? Download a Thermafleece brochure; read up on Airtightness, Vapour Control and Breathability; find out how to enter your building in the ASBP 2020 Awards or read Mark Lynn’s thoughts on Carbon Offsetting – the latest newsletter from thermafleece is now available to download here.
The ASBP Awards 2020
The exciting awards programme, organised by the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products and sponsored by thermafleece, Steico, Cleveland Steel and Tubes and UK Hempcrete are open to construction projects from across the UK built environment sector that were completed and handed over by July 2019 and recognise projects that exemplify excellence in sustainability through their products, design and delivery.
New for 2019/20 – Separate categories for ‘new-build’ and ‘retrofit’ projects.
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So, if you believe your sustainable building project excels across the ‘Six Pillars of Sustainable Construction’, submit your free project entry this summer to compete for a place on the Awards shortlist and the opportunity to present your project at our 4th Healthy Buildings Conference in February 2020. The online submission form goes live on 1st August. Visit the ASBP website for more details at https://asbp.org.uk/asbp-awards
Submissions are assessed against the ASBP’s “Six Pillars of Sustainable Construction”.
The Versatility of Wool
This Summer, The Campaign for Wool will create a Wool Beach Lodge on Porthtowan Beach in Cornwall from 4th – 13th July. The interactive pop up will be home to an exciting programme of events and activities showcasing the versatility of wool during the British transeasonal climate. The Lodge will highlight the latest developments from leading brand partners in the worlds of interiors, sport performance and casual fashion, highlighting wool’s role in the next generation of renewable fibre products.
Visitors and holidaymakers will be able to sit and enjoy the lodge or take part in a range of summer beach activities including surfing, yoga, wool workshops and beach movie screenings all hosted by Campaign for Wool supporters, as well as an exclusive hike with author and survival expert, John Hudson. Additional activities including beach litter clearing will also feature on the programme highlighting the eco-friendly nature of wool, which biodegrades in the land and ocean to reduce waste and help the planet.
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The Lodge will also house next generation products and performance wear from the likes of Finisterre, Core Merino, APL, Icebreaker, Outerknown and Devold, with apparel brands including Wool & Prince, McNair, Anderson & Sheppard, Armadillo Merino, Dashing Tweed, Smalls, Celtic & Co, Sheep INC, Brora, Glenbrae and Johnstons of Elgin also displaying pieces within the space. “We are pleased to introduce the Wool Beach Lodge and our programme of summertime events which shows off the innovative nature of wool in sporting apparel and equipment, and where better to do it than the beautiful Cornish countryside.” says Peter Ackroyd, COO of The Campaign for Wool. “There is a real misconception that wool is purely associated with cooler seasons and warming benefits, however through this exciting launch, the Wool Beach Lodgewill showcase the versatility of wool and establish it as a transeasonal textile.”
In addition to outdoor programming, The Campaign for Wool has collaborated with its brand partners to deck out the Lodge with wool furniture courtesy of Tetrad and Solidwool, along with wool furnishings from labels including Abraham Moon & Sons, AW Hainsworth, Thermafleece, Alternative Flooring and Brintons, through to The Wool Room, Luna Textiles, Harris Tweed Hebrides, Moorswood, Jessica Dance, Raeburn Design, CDBDI and Margo Selby
Plastics in Construction
Mark Lynn & Katherine Adams (ASBP)
STBA/SPAB conference – London 11th June
ASBP Mission: To accelerate the transformation to a healthy, low carbon built environment by championing the use of demonstrably sustainable building products.’ With this in mind Mark Lynn Vice Chair of the ASBP and Managing Director of Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd together with ASBP Technical and research Associate Katherine Adams addressed the STBA/SPAB conference on the thorny subject of Plastics in Construction, held in London on the 11th June.
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The construction industry accounts for 23% of all plastic used and produces 3 x more packaging waste than all UK households combined. Plastics are used in a myriad of forms within the industry, including PS, PIR, PUR and PET for insulation, PVC for windows, doors, ducting, drainage & pipework, cables and polythene and Polypropylene for membranes, and with global demand for construction products expected to more than double by 2050 it is imperative that the industry addresses the use of plastics whilst engaging the supply chain on alternatives for construction products and packaging.
Thermafleece wins Build Magazine 2019 Award
The Awards are our way of endorsing and recommending the most promising and best performing firms across all sectors of the architecture, construction building and interior design, and each recipient is hand-picked through a strictly merit-based process of research and analysis. This approach ensures that the accolade is given to those who truly deserve it, with a level playing field for all, from independent tradespeople to multinational corporations.”Of the award Managing Directory Mark Lynn said: “Innovation is at the heart of our business so it’s great to be recognised in this category. The many roles building insulation plays is gaining greater recognition so it’s vital products like Thermafleece are available that offer greater all round performance”.
Grand Designs: The Street. UK’s first U-Build house uses thermafleece
Episode 3 of Grand Designs: The Street airs on the Thursday 25th April and follows Chris and Roxie, one of the youngest couples out of the 10 families who are building their own bespoke homes on a single street.
Using ‘U Build’ the revolutionary new self-build system created by pioneering London based architect’s Studio Bark, Chris and Roxie take control of the whole build process: designing, creating and adapting their own spaces with the help of a team of young architectural students willing to exchange their free labour in return for experience.
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The system uses a selection of durable non-toxic materials – choose cost effective OSB, robust Spruce, or refined Birch. The walls are insulated with thermafleece sheep’s wool insulation in slab form which is supplied cut to size to accomodate their non standard sizes. Find out more on Grand Designs: The Street – The Box House on The Grand Design Website To find out more about U Build visit the Studio Bark website
Insulation Master Class
If you are attending the Home Building and Renovating show at the NEC on the 28th to 31st March and interested in wool and the benefits it offers to the home environment then head down to the MasterClass Theatre on Sunday 31st March for 11am. Mark Lynn, MD of Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd and Vice Chair of the ASBP will be speaking on the benefits and costs of using wool as insulation in the home.
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If you would like to know more about Thermafleece then they will be stand K116 where you can pick up a sample, take a factsheet or two and speak to one of their experts who will be on hand to discuss all your insulation needs.
Thermafleece stars in Coronation Street factory collapse
Producers used thermafleece CosyWool Slab as the insulation of choice in the recent factory roof collapse stunt of Coronation Street. The episode which has left the residents reeling and claimed the life of character Rana Habeeb featured CosyWool throughout the episode. 4 packs were sent out to the Coronation Street Design Department in readiness for the stunt which was aired on the 20th March.
See the aftermath of the collapse at https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet.
Thermafleece – Made in Yorkshire using British Wool
Thermafleece, proud of their British farming heritage and the only sheep’s wool insulation company with products made in the UK exclusively using the coarse coloured wool from British Hill sheep which would otherwise go to waste.
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In fact thermafleece are so proud of it that they have joined ‘Made in Britain’ – an organisation which aims to bring together the entire manufacturing community in Britain, united with the use of the registered collective mark, so businesses can benefit in sales, marketing, exports and PR and consumers at home and abroad are able to easily identify British-made products. FInd out more about Made in Britain at the website https://www.madeinbritain.org/
SupaSoft, proud to have played a part in Bowman’s Lea – winner of the ASBP Awards 2019
The winners of the inaugural ASBP Awards were announced at the ASBP’s Healthy Buildings Conference and Expo which took place on 28th February
OVERALL WINNER AND THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Bowman’s Lea Harry Paticas, Arboreal Architecture The awards focus on 6 elements which the ASBP believe underpin the sustainability of construction projects – The ‘Six Pillars of Sustainable Construction’: Health and Wellbeing; Resource efficiency, Whole-life Carbon; Ethics and Transparency; Technical performance and Social Value. To find out more about this year’s winning projects or how you can enter for next year’s awards visit the ASBP website https://asbp.org.uk/
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Added 28th Feb 2019
Insulation – An intergral part of the building fabric
The Campaign for Wool recently visited Eden Renewable Innovations base in the Lake District to see just how thermafleece sheep’s wool insulation is made from start to finish. See why sheep’s wool insulation is the perfect choice for your home. Watch the video at byff.ly/2L3wsUa
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Opting for wool has a positive impact on the planet
To support their Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, lifelong concerns of the dangers of plastic on the countryside and marine environments Campaign for Wool have created this animation to share the positive benefits of wool. Available to view on YouTube at youtu.be/y6JIlqHGbQ0
Whilst it has been known for decades that wool biodegrades in soil, adding nutrients back to the earth, more recent studies have shown that wool also biodegrades in the ocean and water, and so does not impact the planet with microfibre and plastic pollution. An important message for wool in the current awareness and concern for the planet, and how ‘we’ as individuals can ‘each’ help to reduce this impact.
New research has revealed that 44% of the public are completely unaware that microfibres – the microscopic fibres released into our waterways when we wash our clothes – often end up in our food and that we are effectively eating our own clothes.An estimated 35% of primary microplastics entering our oceans are released through the washing of textiles and studies have found these fibres in our food – from mussels and table salt to honey and beer.Plastic microfibres absorb toxic chemicals and the long-term health impact of consuming these fibres has yet to be fully established.
Synthetic clothing is on the rise and now accounts for around 60% of all clothing produced, a survey of over 2,000 people across the UK showed 44% of people don’t realise that synthetic fibres such as polyester, acrylic or nylon are actually plastic. Half a million tonnes of plastic microfibres a year contribute to ocean pollution.
As our Patron His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales said recently, “I find it sobering to think that almost all the plastic ever produced is still here somewhere on the planet in one form or another and will remain here for centuries to come, possibly thousands of years. A good start has been made. The matter of plastic debris in the environment, in particular the ocean, is now on the agenda. We do, however, need to keep it there as the amount of plastic entering the ocean every year is, unbelievably, set to get worse rather than better. We cannot, indeed must not, allow this situation to continue. A solution is achievable and simply has to be done for all our sakes – and, above all, for the long-term viability of all those species in the sea which are already suffering unbearably because of our actions.”
Nicholas Coleridge, Chairman of the Campaign for Wool, added: “Plastic in the ocean is the most emotive, most horrifying environmental issue of the day. The fact that wool biodegrades in sea water in a short time, while plastic bobs around forever, tells you everything you need to know about their relative qualities. As so often, Wool is the right and natural choice.”
Peter Ackroyd, Chief Operating Officer for the Campaign for Wool, said: “Take care of wool and wool will take care of you. It is not only good for the planet but also good for your health. It is really easy to look after, requires less laundering due to its natural cleansing and stain repellent properties. Investing in wool will give back lots in return – not just in terms of comfort but also in longevity and cost per wear. Switching to wool would reduce land and sea-fill waste, whilst also reducing energy and water use. We would urge consumers to check clothing labels when shopping and look for natural fabrics that do not pollute the environment.
Innovating with low impact materials
Our own MD and Vice Chair of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) Mark Lynn will be speaking at The London Build Sustainability Summit, part of the London Build Expo being held at Olympia on the 23rd and 24th October.
Added 21st October 2018
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Mark, together with Duncan Baker-Brown Lecturer/Director at The University of Brighton/ BBM Sustainable Design and Pete Walker who is a Professor/ Director at the University of Bath / BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials, will be speaking on Innovating with Low Impact Materials. Covered in the session will be ‘Material re-use and the circular economy’, ‘Bio-materials for healthier buildings’ and ‘Insulation: It’s more than just U-values’. The lecture will be followed by open discussion.
Speaking of the summit Mark says: ‘there has been much progress in the areas of sustainable product and technological innovation in recent years. When it comes to sustainability, there is a also a need to be innovative in our communication and the language we use in a way that resonates with many more people.’
Innovating with Low Impact Materials takes place on the 23rd October at 2.20pm
More info on the London Build Expo can be found on the website: https://www.londonbuildexpo.com/welcome
Insulation – consider your options
The right insulation for an old building has been much debated over the years. Most period homes were built in the days before cavity walls and modern insulating materials and adding an extra layer can be a delicate balancing act – get it right, and you will be warm and comfortable, but get it wrong and your home could be damp from condensation, and you could even damage the building fabric.
By Melanie Griffiths – Period Living June 2018 – The right way to insulate an old building
Added July 30 2018
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Period homes are often through of as being draughty, and air leakage is responsible for as much as a third of a building’s heat loss. While reducing draughts by sealing up gaps and adding seamless insulation layers is key to making a house feel warmer, in order to prevent condensation it’s important that materials are breathable and ideally able to help control humidity in the atmosphere.
Insulation products made of natural materials work especially well with old buildings. ‘Natural fibres are truly breathable and can help buffer humidity levels, holding moisture in a less harmful way.’ Says Mark Lynn, managing director of Eden Renewable Innovations and a director of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products. ‘This is particularly important in older homes, where ventilation and humidity levels may be problematic.’
Although natural products cost more than many mainstream options, they are renewable and can even help reduce the levels of indoor pollution. However, don’t overlook man-made insulation as there are some extremely effective, breathable products that are suitable for period homes. Often the best solution is to employ a mix of materials – consult an expert with experience of old properties.
Where to insulate:
LOFTS:
If your loft is not currently insulated, then tackling it should be your first priority – it’s the easiest area to insulate and considering up to a quarter of an un-insulated home’s heat is lost through the roof, it’s an important one, too.
The most cost – effective solution is a ‘cold’ roof, where the insulation is laid on top of the ceilings of the rooms below. This is usually done by layering quilts or batts of insulation between and over the joists. Alternatively, loose-fill insulation, which fills all the gaps, can be used. It’s important to maintain ventilation paths at the edge of the roof to avoid condensation, which can rot the timbers.
If you want to convert the loft into a living space, you will need a ‘warm’ roof, where the roof itself is insulated. If reroofing is taking place, you could insulate above the rafters, although this will raise the roof height. The other option is to insulate between or below the rafters, or a combination of both. A variety of materials can be used, but its important to maintain an air gap beneath the tiles.
WALLS:
It is estimated that 35 per cent of an uninsulated building’s heat can be lost through the alls, but this is disruptive to address. Homes build before 1920 had solid walls, as opposed to including a cavity that can be filled with insulation. Solid walls can be insulated either internally or externally – but both solutions involve covering the existing wall finish, which can mean the loss of period features.
For internal walls, rigid insulation boards can be applied, or a stud wall constructed and filled with soft insulation. Plaster is then applied over the top. This inevitably affects existing skirtying and cornicing. To Insulation external walls, a layer of insulation is applied and covered with lime render or other cladding. This can totally change the look of a house and affect elements such and overhangs, windowsills and door openings, so is not suitable for the beautiful facades of many period homes.
FLOORS:
Around 10 per cent of a property’s heat is lost through the floors, of which there are two types: solid or suspended timber. Solid floors are in direct contact with the ground, so without lifting them it is difficult to add insulation, but topping them with breathable, natural carpets, such as wool or coir, will help. Avoid rubber-backed designs. If the original floor has preciously been replaced with concrete and includes a damp-proof membrane, then laying a floating wood floor on top can improve thermal performance. If there are damp problems with a concrete floor, consider replacing it with limecrete, made of breathable lime and aggregate.
Suspended floors are straightforward to insulate where there is access from below, such as a cellar. Quilt- type insulation can be fitted between the joists, supported with netting. Insulating from above involves lifting floorboards, so think twice if the floor is of historical value. If you do disturb the boards, lift a small number at a time. A variety of soft, insulating materials can be sed. Supported by nets of rigid materials can rest on timber battens.
DRAUGHT PROOFING
Alongside insulating, it’s important to address gaps, as heat is easily lost through them. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that simply filling gaps can save up to £40 per room, per year on bills. Open chimneys are easy to block off with an inflatable Chimney Balloon or removable Chimney Sheep, while gaps between floorboards can be sealed with discreet strips, such as StopGap or DraughtEx.
Narrow gaps around windows and doors can create draughts as well as rattling noises. Avoid silicone sealants and instead use draught strips, which can be removed in the future if required. If you have single glazed windows that make a room feel cold, look at fitting secondary glazing.
The Materials
BLANKETS AND FLEECES:
Soft batts or rolls of insulation are easy to fit between joists, studs and rafters. The cheapest option is glass or mineral wool, which has good thermal and sound insulating properties, but is irritating to skin. Sheep’s wool, such as Thermafleece, is a good alternative with advantages including being kind to skin and enhanced breathability and sound absorption. ‘Sheep’s wool is made from keratin, which can absorb and release more moisture and even remove indoor air pollutants,’ says Mark Lynn.
The other fleece option is hemp, a sustainable plant crop that is more breathable than mineral wool, can absorb up to 20 per cent of its weight in water and absorb noxious gas. If space is tight, look at Thermablok Aerogel, available in blankets and boards, which uses NASA-developed technology to eliminate cold bridging (which impacts on efficiency) while being breathable. It’s super thin – just a 10mm thickness can increase the insulation factor of a solid wall by up to 67 per cent.
RIGID BOARDS AND FOAMS:
There are a range of board options, the most common being ‘closed cell’ foam slabs, such as PIR (polyisocyanurate) PUR (polyurethane) and phenolic. Most are impervious to moisture. For a natural option, look at wood fibre board, which is made from timber waste, so is largely renewable and recyclable, has some humidity control and offers good acoustic performance. Boards need to be fitted together tightly, but avoid in awkward area’s as cutting around details without gaps is tricky.
SPRAY-ON AND LOOSE FILL:
Ideal for filling every nook and cranny, these insulations form a seamless layer. Cellulose, such as from Thermofloc, is a loose-fill option made form recycled newspaper. It can be poured in place or blown into voids and gaps. It’s eco-friendly, breathable and gives food acousitic and thermal properties, and is suitable for roofs, floors and walls. Also look at lysnene, a spray-on insulation with an ‘open cell’ composition that, on application, expands 100-fold in seconds to seal all gaps, service holes and hard to reach spaces
Period Living June 2018
Feature: Melanie Griffiths
Illustrations: Sarah Overs
Contacts:
Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd,
Thermafleece, Natrahemp and SupaSoft (recycled plastic bottle) insulation
www.thermafleece.com
Sales & General Enquiries: 01768 486285
Thermofloc:
Cellulose (recycled newspaper) insulation
www.thermoflocinsulation.co.uk
Natural Insulations
Online retailers of Steico flec (wood fibre insulation) thermafleece, Natrahemp, Supasoft (recycled plastic bottle) Insulation and thermofloc
www.naturalinsulations.co.uk
Supasoft Insulation
Recycled Plastic Bottle Insulation
www.supasoftinsulation.com
ASBP Awards 2018 now open
The ASBP Awards 2018 are now open – The awards, which recognise construction projects exemplifying excellence in sustainability through their products, design and delivery opened for entries on the 1st July and remain open until the 14th September with shortlisting taking place in the autumn.
Added 1st July 2018
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The concept of breathability in buildings
By Mark Lynn, ASBP Director & MD of Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd
and Gary Newman, Executive Chair of the ASBP.
The first in a planned series of ASBP industry briefing papers on the topic of breathability in buildings. Our aim is to explain breathability in a language that can be understood by building practitioners and provide guidance on how to design for breathability. In doing this, we hope to enable industry to deliver better buildings designed to take advantage of the significant building performance benefits of breathability.
Added March 2018
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Breathability is a measure aimed at complimenting other means of controlling moisture within the building and its fabric. When considering breathability, it is important to mention that the majority of internal moisture should be removed by good ventilation and the majority of external moisture should be eliminated through an effective weather protection surface, good guttering and drainage systems.
Assuming most moisture is controlled in this way, breathability allows for the balanced removal of what moisture is left within the fabric (which although relatively small, has the potential to be very damaging to the building fabric and occupant health over a period of time).
Defining breathability
A breathable structure is one that allows the passage of moisture in order to prevent the accumulation of harmful water within the building fabric or its surroundings.
Harmful water is water that increases humidity to a detrimental level or which alters the physical structure of materials in a damaging way. When water is capable of dissolving things or is capable of supporting microbial growth, it risks causing harm.
Persistent liquid water or persistently high humidity is likely to be harmful. These often go hand in hand. Intermittent wetting, water vapour with a relative humidity below 70% as well as most water bound to a material (bound water) is unlikely to be harmful. Water vapour is a gas and shouldn’t be confused with mist.
The four essential components of effective breathability
A moisture pathway – There must be a pathway for water vapour to move through breathable materials. Moisture can only move through materials that contain pores or holes of sufficient size to allow water vapour molecules to migrate and escape from within the building fabric. Materials or structures with this property are said to be vapour permeable.
Molecules of water vapour are incredibly small (less than 3 millionths of one mm) so very small pores can seem very large in relation to individual molecules. To give some idea of the scale, a water molecule passing through the eye of a needle is like a dingy sailing through the Pacific Ocean. This is why vapour permeable materials can appear solid to the naked eye but still allow large quantities of water vapour to pass through them.
A driving force – There must be a force to drive the movement of moisture. Moisture always moves from areas of high humidity to areas of low humidity so for moisture to move through the fabric we need different levels of humidity – known as a humidity gradient. It is this gradient that drives the rate and direction of moisture movement.
Asorptive fabric – There must be a way to suppress the harmfulness of any water during its passage through the fabric. In other words, while moisture is moving through the fabric, it should be in a form that is least likely to cause harm. This is done by using materials that are capable of binding and releasing moisture as well as regulating humidity. Materials that can bind and release moisture are commonly referred to as breathable materials
Vapour control – There must be measures to regulate the amount of moisture able to enter and leave the building fabric. This is referred to as vapour control. Vapour control is achieved by ensuring components are organised in the correct order in terms of their resistance to moisture movement (vapour permeability).
Breathability in practice
Breathability is a property that prevents or limits the build-up of harmful moisture within the building fabric. As such breathable structures are most effective when the amount of moisture capable of entering the building fabric is regulated.
Internal moisture is best regulated by effective ventilation, limiting sources of high humidity, using appropriate vapour control measures and preventing uncontrolled air leakage into and through the building fabric. The latter is best achieved by following an appropriate air-tightness and vapour control plan.
External moisture is best managed with effective weathering surface and ensuring that guttering and drainage systems are installed and maintained correctly.
Moisture moves through vapour open materials at different rates making it important to install products in the right combination allowing for appropriate vapour control. This will prevent moisture bottle- necking that can create a damaging build-up of water during its transit. An effective combination of materials and products can be determined through moisture modelling and condensation risk analysis during the design stage.
In a properly functioning breathable structure, it is important that water moves around the fabric in a form that does not risk causing harm. This means that the accumulation of liquid water and persistently high levels of humidity should be avoided. The best way of achieving this is to incorporate sorptive materials which include natural fibre products (such as wood, wool, cellulose, straw and hemp) or mineral products (such as clay and lime) that are capable of binding and releasing moisture.
Sorptive materials temporarily bind moisture and lower humidity significantly suppressing the harmful effects of moisture as it moves through the building fabric. Because of this, the most effective breathable structures incorporate at least one sorptive material. In most cases this involves the incorporation of natural fibre insulation.
Types of breathable materials
Natural fibres – suppress or moderate potentially harmful water by binding and releasing moisture which helps regulate humidity levels as the moisture moves.
Minerals – can provide a porous surface through which potentially harmful water can move and have the ability to capture moisture.
Breathable and moisture variable membranes – are flexible micro-porous or monolithic membranes that keep out liquid water and draughts whilst allowing the passage of moisture vapour.
Conclusions
Breathability is the most effective way of maintaining stable and harmless moisture levels within the building fabric. For effective breathability, all four essential components must be present – a moisture pathway, a driving force, a sorptive fabric and vapour control. Breathability is not a substitute for the main mechanisms of moisture removal and prevention in and around the fabric. Instead it should be seen as an effective mechanism for regulating levels of residual moisture within the fabric. In practice, a degree of moisture will inevitably penetrate the building fabric so having a strategy to deal with this is important for good design.
Think natural insulations is more expensive? – think again
Interested in using natural insulation but worried about the cost?
Like most people, we’ve become very familiar with the “ethical premium”: if you want the healthier, greener option – you usually have to shell out more. So we were happily surprised when we found out how competitive natural insulation actually is.
Added April 2016
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More price-competitive
While doing some research for a client, our Architectural Assistant Chrissy made an exciting discovery: natural insulation is now price-competitive with the artificial version, and in many cases is actually considerably cheaper.
Natural wall insulation costs far less than industry-standard artificial insulation per square metre. However, natural insulation does require a greater thickness to provide the same thermal performance – about 75% more. Taking this into account, we have found that cavity wall insulation for a timber-framed brick building is significantly cheaper when using natural materials.
Based on quotes for two of the most popular and industry-standard products, the same thermal performance can be achieved with either 80mm thick Celotex FR5000 at £13.36 per square metre, or 140mm thick Thermafleece CosyWool at £10.07 per square metre.
Safer and healthier
Celotex FR5000 wall insulation is made from rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR) board, which is plastic-based with various chemical additives and a blowing agent to make it foam. While not particularly hazardous, it is an irritant to skin, eyes and the upper respiratory system. Thermafleece CosyWool is a natural and safe product which is almost entirely sheep’s wool – you don’t even need gloves to handle it.
More sustainable
Thermafleece insulation is natural, non-toxic, made in the UK, low-carbon and recyclable. Other natural insulation types such as wood-fibre or hemp-fibre are non-toxic, low-carbon and recyclable too – although the place of manufacture will vary. The Celotex product is free from ozone-depleting substances and is an energy-efficient insulator. However, the manufacturing process causes pollution and the product causes more pollution at the end of its life as it is difficult or impossible to recycle. Arguably, relying on plastics-based products is also inherently unsustainable as it supports the climate-disruptive oil industry.
Article published by Koru Architects. www.koruarchitects.co.uk
12 ways to save energy in a period home
Period homes have a reputation of being draughty and expensive to run, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Old, uninsulated solid-wall homes do lose more heat than newly built houses, and outdated, inefficient appliances and fittings use more energy than necessary. However, it is possible to carry out some simple improvements to make your home warmer and reduce bills.
Real Homes – Melanie Griffiths
Added October 2017
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When it comes to more significant works, however, there is much conflicting information around what is the best course of action to take with an old home, especially if it is listed or located in a Conservation Area. The biggest issue is when inappropriate, non-reversible changes are made, or when breathable materials are not specified.
Consider carefully what advice you follow when tackling areas such as heating and insulation, and only work with companies that have experience of dealing with period properties. Where possible, repair rather than replace and check with your local authority before introducing any energy-saving measures that may have a physical or visual impact on your property.
See the article in full at Real Home: https://www.realhomes.com/advice/ways-to-save-energy-in-a-period-home
UK must insulate 25 million homes by 2050
Authors of a report to Parliament say that in order to meet the insulation standards required by 2050, more than one home every minute will need to be refurbished in the UK if we are to meet our carbon emission targets.
With the UK needing to cut carbon emissions by 80%, the targeting of inefficiently heated, draughty and poorly insulated buildings will be high on the government’s agenda – given refurbishment of properties of this kind will be expected to deliver over a third of the overall reduction.
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As a result, the emphasis on effectively insulating your home now couldn’t be greater.The choice of insulation available on the market is varied, but there is much more to insulation than simply saving heat! Your choice of the type of insulation you use is an important decision, a decision that can have economic and environmental consequences for your home, workspace and the planet.
So consider. . .
BREATHABILITY:
Ensuring that your house is breathing, and moisture is able to escape is essential to the health of the building as well as the occupants.Wool breathes through its’ very fibres, packed together creating millions of pockets, these fibres trap air and ensure homes are kept warm during the winter and cool in the summer.
MOISTURE CONTROL:
When wool absorbs moisture it emits energy that warms the wool and so helps reduce condensation and can actually draw moisture out from timber and other building materials where condensation might otherwise be a problem.
AIR QUALITY:
As a chemically very complex fibre, wool is also able to readily bind and fix many airborne chemicals, thus making the air within the building cleaner to breathe. The fibres fix carbon during their formation, providing a mechanism to remove atmospheric CO2 .Fibres such as wool and hemp contain approx. 50% carbon meaning that every tonne converted into insulation fixes the equivalent of nearly 2 tonnes of CO2 which can dramatically outweigh any carbon consumed in manufacture.
SAFETY:
Another thought to consider is the safety aspect. Wool is a kind fibre, itch free, safe and easy to install. Therefore, there is no need for protective clothing when installing and it does not release damaging fibres into the atmosphere when cut.
SOUND QUALITY:
The sound insulation properties of natural fibres are far superior to those of man-made materials due to their much higher density and the irregular nature of the natural fibres themselves.
PERFORMANCE:
The thermal conductivity of wool insulation products is equal to and often higher than conventional materials. Thermafleece CosyWool for example has a thermal conductivity of 0.0039 W/Mk.
ENVIRONMENT:
Transporting low density insulation carries an environmental impact that can be reduced by compressing the materials. Here at Eden Renewable innovations Ltd, recycled polyester is combined with wool which enables a compression level of 60%. This has distinct and significant bearing on transport costs and fuel consumption whilst retaining the functional benefits of the wool.
IN A NUTSHELL
Wool fibres not only trap escaping heat, they radiate heat when they absorb airborne moisture.
Wool absorbs toxins emitted from building materials such as formaldehyde
Wool insulation can reduce carbon dioxide emissions in a typical house by 1 ton per year.
Wool insulation is far more effective at absorbing noise than synthetic counterparts
Wool insulation is easy and safe to install!
The real lady in the van
SupaSoft insulation helping to keep an eco-friendly mobile home warm and cosy.
Louise Watts wanted her unique mobile home to be as environmentally friendly as possible. However, with limited space, weight restrictions and a roller shutter at the back making it difficult for the van to conserve heat. The insulation not only had to be eco friendly and able to help keep the van warm, but also be lightweight and non bulky.
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The solution was found in using SupaSoft. With its’ recycled content of over 95%, and made almost entirely from recycled plastic bottles it fit the environmental bill perfectly. Whilst the crimped polyester fibres provide loft and maintain durability which ticked the weight and lack of bulk boxes. With the warmth and comfort provided by polyester fibres widely used to fill duvets and pillows it also meant that the insulation would help to keep the van warm and cosy even in the coldest of weathers.
To find out more about SupaSoft – Itch-free insulation made from recycled plastic bottles visit www.supasoftinsulation.com