Low Energy House - Insulation Materials - Super Insulation

Insulating the building envelope is the most important of all energy conservation measures because it has the greatest impact on energy expenditure. In the average house, well designed and installed insulation can reduce the amount of heat lost through the building envelope by at least half

House Insulation Materials

Glass wool and Rockwool are efficient fibrous insulating materials that are fire proof and commonly installed in lofts and external cavity walls
Rigid urethane insulation is a highly efficient insulating material that can achieve very low U-values with minimum material thickness
Rigid phenolic insulation is a highly efficient insulating material that has better fire properties than other rigid foam plastic boards
High density extruded polystyrene boards are popular for insulating roofs and ground floors as they are a highly efficient insulant with a high compressive strength
Cellulose is an efficient insulant that has low embodied energy as it is produced from recycled paper
Sheeps wool is a sustainable insulating material and its low conductivity compares favourably with other fibrous insulants
Aerogels are extremely low density solids with remarkably high insulating properties
Multi foil Insulation is a very effective insulant when installed adjacent to an unventilated air space
If the external walls are constructed of solid masonry then insulated dry lining can be applied internally

House Insulation - Building Regulations

Minimum legal requirements for thermal performance in buildings have been introduced and tightened up progressively, with the aim of reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

It may be desirable to increase the thickness of insulation to further improve the thermal comfort of the dwelling and make more savings. In the context of the insulation project, extra thicknesses of insulation can often be provided for little extra cost