Submit our quick form and get quotes now!
3 min read
3 min read
Insulation 3 Eco-friendly Insulation Materials | Renovation Quotes
Insulation is a key step during the building or renovation process of a house. Nowadays, environmentally-friendly insulation materials have become essential elements, working to ensure the thermal comfort of a building’s occupants whilst saving energy alongside the environment.
Here are three tips to insulate your house in a way that is respectful of the world around you.
Source : Canva
Insulation materials that are made from plants tend to be more eco-friendly, with cork and straw being two prime examples. These plant-based materials work very well for a building’s thermal insulation, used on the outer surface of the house.
They can also be used indoors. In general, their thermal conductivity level is 0,040 W/m.°K. This low value indicates that they retain a lot of heat.
Since this material works so well to conserve our favourite bottles of wine, why not use its strengths to insulate a home? Indeed, cork is a very interesting insulation material:
Coming from the cork oak, cork is sold under several forms, including sheets, loose material and granules ;
This material is easy to install and is relatively inexpensive ;
Cork has an insulating value (R) of 3.7, which makes it very efficient ;
This material is also good for soundproofing ;
It is renewable and recyclable, which is an eco-friendly option in the long run.
No, this is nothing like the home of one of the three little pigs in the famous children's story! Hay is actually an insulation material that can be very effective for homes. Here are a few important details to know about this subject:
As an insulation material, it is sold as bales or walls of hay ;
In general, hay is used to insulate outdoor walls ;
Available in Canada, hay is an economical insulation material ;
Its R-value is 2, which is quite efficient providing that the layer of insulation is thick enough ;
However, the insulation is relatively complicated and your house must be adapted accordingly.
To know more about natural insulation options, check out our article on the subject.
Source : Canva
Recycled materials such as cellulose wadding are very successful. This particular product is made from recycled paper (old newspaper) and a mix of flame retardant additives and fungicides. Like with plant-based materials, the thermal conductivity level is low, 0,035 W/m.°K.
One of the best aspects of this product is the fact that it is self-extinguishing, meaning that it can burst into flames and quickly extinguish itself before the damage is too serious.
Cellulose comes from wood. Therefore, cellulose wadding is made out of wood fibre or recycled newspaper;
There are two installation techniques for cellulose wadding, which are by blowing or spurting out the material;
Cellulose is also sold in the form of panels;
This material fully covers the available space and does not require us to create sealed joints;
Cellulose has an R-value of 3.7, which makes it a good insulation material;
This material is very environmentally friendly as it is recyclable and biodegradable.
Source : Canva
Renewable energy is one of the best ways to ensure that you are using an environmentally friendly insulation method. Geothermal energy is one of the best resources for this type of purpose. Among other things, it can be used for water-heated floors.
These types of floors, also known as heating floors, act as a heating system that is installed underneath the floor surface. They are made of tubes that contain warm water that circulates through the ground, coming from a heat pump. This system works very well to heat the house from the inside.
Curious to learn more about renovations that help maintain the environment? Check out our Eco-friendly and Green Renovation Guide.
RenoQuotes.com can help you get 3 quotes for your eco-friendly insulation project. If you submit your project to us, we’ll put you in contact with the best-qualified contractors in our network. Fill in the form on the homepage (it only takes a few minutes), and you will receive quotes from home renovation and insulation specialists.
Last modified 2023-11-07
The latest industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources.
Amanda Harvey • 07 Nov 2023
Living responsibly and acknowledging that it is important to be environmentally conscious is becoming a core value of many homeowners. When you consider ways to live green, it might come down to making some significant changes to the materials or structures of your home.
N/A • 07 Nov 2023
Many homeowners, as well as those aspiring to become homeowners, may dream of finding their way out of the city and living a life beyond societal confines. This could mean living in an alternative home. For some, this may be a home off-grid, with no dependence on a power grid, or the rules and regulations that come with living in an urban area.
Amanda Harvey • 07 Nov 2023
Every single winter, homeowners like yourself know how difficult it is to leave the driveway successfully. Between the constant build-up of ice and snow and the energy it takes to shovel, we all find cold weather exhausting. Many have turned to hiring someone to frequently clear their driveway, but this is a costly affair. So, is there a middle ground to consider that’ll solve this problem? Enter heated asphalt.
RenoQuotes.com • 07 Nov 2023
Back in the day, dimension stock was the material of choice used to build floor systems. However, through the years, building techniques have significantly evolved to allow for innovative engineered wood products on the market, such as floor trusses. These can be shaped in various ways and are especially valued for their many advantages by building professionals.
N/A • 07 Nov 2023
Nowadays, condo living is about as commonplace as living in a home. Many are adopting this lifestyle for a variety of reasons: comfort, ease, affordability and so forth.